Advantages of Online Webinars and meetings

                           Advantages of Online Webinars and meetings

Covid situation has imposed on all of us to conduct or attend all our meetings online. Whether it is a small meeting of 5-10 members of a Managing Committee of an Association or a webinar where hundreds participate or online classes for regular students, video conferencing has come to stay. Hardly a year ago skype meetings were a luxury meant only for the sophisticated! When something becomes common, we tend to take it for granted and go about without appreciating the plus points. Let me try listing out benefits of online meetings so that we feel blessed.

 

1.      For organisers or host it is simple, easy and almost free of many charges. No rentals of the meeting hall, refreshments, honorarium / bouquets / mementos to speakers are involved.

2.      Participants avoid travel, pollution and save time and effort to attend meetings

3.      Participant can feign attendance by placing a placard / cut out etc on the chair or have a good photo on his google account which is shown when camera is off.

4.      You can switch off camera at will and have coffee, tea or snacks or go for a break without embarrassment or disturbing others seated next to you.

5.      You can avoid the embarrassment of having to sit next to someone with foul breadth or body odour - even coming from yourself.

6.      You can chat selectively and privately without disturbing anyone

7.      You (the host mostly, others in some platforms) can record a dance, song or speech locally on some systems

8.      You may watch / observe others(womenfolk!) with impunity, without getting caught

9.      You may note the event in (Google) calendar and get reminded automatically

10.  You can read the list of all participants in one go; At times in a physical meeting, if you are in the front row, you need to be turning back every now and then to see if anyone you want has come.

11.  You may place positive comments and appreciation about topic, speaker etc without waiting to write the same in the register at the end of the meeting.

12.  Many meetings offer a recorded version when meeting is over. You may watch this in case you have missed some portions.

13.  Generally online meetings close following the time booked during scheduling it. You can budget your time accordingly.

14.  You may leave without being noticed after you have heard your favourite speaker

15.  You may attend to email or make a phone call after muting your mike or switching off the camera.

     

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