While some of you already know this, the other night on Twitter, an impromptu conversation started about whether or not professional associations in Higher Education should invest money in development of Conference Apps versus providing free access to WiFi at their respective national conference locations. Here is the “Storify” of that conversation. I’m interested in your feedback and hope the conversation and information is shared with those planning events next year. Thanks to all those who engaged with me and answered the questions so thoughtfully.
The big takeaway is to make sure you ask your respective membership what they are more interested in and if you can do both, then do so!
After reading the tweets below, what do you think? Should professional associations be investing their time and money in developing a conference app or finding a way to provide free access to WiFi?
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I’m going to have to agree with those that said they don’t want to download a app for every conference. I downloaded the NASPA ’11 app and it failed several times so I just ended up using my conference booklet. Organizations can save money and time by creating a mobile site that is accessible from multiple platforms and there are definitely ways to engage users through the use of these sites.
Wifi is always a must. I think the backchannels at the conferences are the perfect example of how we remain connected to those at the conference.
I think for me, the debate is “what is in the app?” and “How is the service for my phone?”
When I responded to the question, I indicated that it depended. Free Wi-fi would be great but if I have a smart phone with good service, its not a need. I don’t want to be lugging my laptop around and trying to use wifi that way. Its just too much and a distraction to the presenters. However, should their be no service, then WiFi is a requirement. TJ makes a great point in bringing up that we should be outside of our office and not tethered to it.
In the argument for an App, the problem you run into is fragmentation. With so many devices and operation systems (OS) its hard to ensure that the app will work on every device. With that said, the APP needs to be more than “this is a search able schedule.” It needs to be able to connect to social media, store connection information (Like the App ‘Bump’) and do more than be a simple schedule. It should also be a year round application that connects you to the organization and be updated and upkept outside of the conference. Often they are just made for a specific event and what is the point of a short term application when it can be more valuable year round?
Lastly, I think the argument against the NASPA app was that it didn’t work very well. I did not attend NASPA but the feedback I observed was that it didn’t work all of the time. Unfortunately, due to fragmentation of devices, that could happen. Testing is a fickle environment (I should know, I have a computer science degree) and Mobile OS systems are very special to program for. People expect alot out of these small devices , including the conference application. However, things take time and are “expected to work” but this leads me down a path of education about technology and how it works, and this is not the forum for that.
Great conversation Ed, I really appreciate you bringing it up. Hope my comments add to the discussion.
I think that we need both free wifi at conferences and a mobile app for the event. However, the content in the app should also be available on a mobile-optimized site. If wifi goes down, then an attendee would still be able to access content via the app (as long as it cached data). Someday soon, one of the major sponsors will gladly give enough money to cover both wifi and a mobile-ready version of a conference program…think of how much pop a sponsor would get if this was done right? They would be seen as heroes…championing technology and access.
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