Unusual conference technique

When delegates at a conference at the University of Otago this week left the room, organisers Andrew Long and Erika Pearson were not too worried.

For at this conference, discussing New Zealand's internet and digital future, there were many other ways to stay involved.

Sessions were recorded using a webcam and streamed live on the internet, presentations were podcast for access via iPods, information was posted on Facebook, a volunteer wrote an instant blog, another volunteer constantly updated a webpage, and questions were accepted via Twitter.

"People anywhere in the world can watch and participate. It's almost like being there," Mr Long, a lecturer in the university's information science department, said.

The two-day conference was organised by the university's multidisciplinary Internet Research Group of Otago and was the first to bring together academics and those working in the industry.

Among the topics discussed were the technological infrastructure required to support digital technology, the social impact of such technology, mobile internet, challenges to internet freedom, and the thorny issues surrounding copyright in the digital age.

In keeping with the democratic spirit of the internet, the conference content was selected from submissions participants voted for online.

Seventy-six delegates attended the conference, but Dr Pearson, of the media, film and communication department, estimated at least 10 more were participating by Twitter and other means.

"I got a tweet from someone in the United States who said . . . they were signing off for a while to go and get a pizza.

"It was quite cool."

Mr Long said the flexible conference style and the acceptance of questions while presentations were taking place was a challenge for some presenters.