Few things can change our everyday life and future as much as the use of artificial intelligence (AI). We have been feeling the first effects for several years. Whether it is a matter of saving more or more efficiently distributing time and resources, the potential that AI opens up for us is gigantic.

In Europe, the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) plays a central role in the scientific advancement of AI. DFKI is, among others, coordinator of the European Language Resource Coordination (ELRC) which supports the collection of language data across Europe. And it is responsible for organizing the fourth ELRC Conference in Helsinki. Of course, DFKI are not just state of the art in research but also in conference organization. Therefore this year, they also relied on a LineUpr event app. In this interview, Eileen Schnur tells us more about ELRC, why she deliberately looked for an event app, and how she sees the future of conferences. Really worth reading.

LineUpr: Hello Eileen. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and the ELRC.

Eileen: Hello. My name is Eileen Schnur and I am researcher at DFKI, the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence. DFKI is coordinator of the European Language Resource Coordination, short ELRC.

ELRC was initiated by the European Commission and focusses on the collection of language data. The collected language data is used to train eTranslation, the European Commission’s machine translation service, which aims to support cross-border communication between public services, ministries and citizens across the EU plus Norway and Iceland.

Together with our partners ELDA, ILSP, Tilde and our national experts (National Anchor Points), we want to overcome language barriers and facilitate information exchange across the EU, Iceland and Norway.

LineUpr: You used LineUpr for the ELRC Conference. Please tell us more about this event.

Eileen: The Fourth ELRC Conference took place in Helsinki on 26 and 27 November. We had participants from across the EU member states, Norway and Iceland, including representatives of the European Commission, various ministries, public administrations, research institutions and companies from e.g. the field of language technology.  The Fourth ELRC Conference centred on the motto “Language Data Matters”, because we wanted to highlight the importance and the value of language data. Many people aren’t aware of that. The event also marked an important milestone for the project, because it was the first time that we presented the ELRC White Paper. It is called “Sustainable Language Data Sharing to Support Language Equality in Multilingual Europe” and reports on the results of a two-year investigation on the infrastructures for sharing language data in European public administrations and ministries. The White Paper also describes current challenges of sharing language data and provides possible solutions for a sustainable improvement of the status quo. On the second conference day, we had a country expo, where participants could get country-specific insights related to language data sharing across Europe. They could learn more about a particular country, talk about common barriers of language data sharing and potential solutions, build synergies that can help overcome existing barriers and lay the foundations for sharing language resources across Europe. They could actually visit all EU member states, Norway and Iceland in half a day.

LineUpr: Which strategies and tools do you use to address this target group? Do you attach particular importance to something special?

Eileen: First, there is the ELRC website, where all news and events are published. We shared the first information there early. We also have a Twitter account and our newsletter. Direct and personal contact with potential participants and the ELRC community is still very important to us. That’s why we sent the majority of the invitations by email.

LineUpr: If you compare a printed program with an event app, what are the advantages and disadvantages of both variants?

Eileen: Of course, an event app is a more environmentally friendly alternative. At many events, participants are almost showered with paper. We wanted to avoid that. I also think that the interaction with the participants was better and the app was very informative. The participants could, for example, indicate which lectures they find particularly interesting, we were able to store relevant links and background information and also make changes at short notice so that the app was always up to date. The notification function was also very useful. Before the conference, we posted valuable information on how to get to the venue, informed the participants during the meeting when the next lecture began and thanked them after the event by push notification – that would not have been possible without the app.

However, there are still many who prefer to take notes with pen and paper. That’s where the app reaches its limits.

LineUpr: How long before the event did you start creating the event app? How much time do you think it took to create the app?

Eileen: In mid-September, we experimented a bit with the app for the first time. It took a few hours to add all of the content, but once the basic structure was in place, the effort for updates or additions was absolutely limited.

LineUpr: Did you also use the info pages?

Eileen: Yes, we even created several ones. On the one hand, there was an information page about the app itself. There was also a general information page about the project and the conference as well as a page with conference FAQs about travel, accommodation, participation fees, etc. In addition, we included various links to the registration page, the white paper, the newsletter registration, and a feedback page. Since we had an exhibition on the second day, we also created an information page with a link to the floor plan.

LineUpr: How do you rate the creation of the event app with LineUpr? What do you like and what can we improve?

Eileen: We were using an event app for the first time and wanted to test whether creating such an app was feasible for beginners and not too time-consuming. During our first test, it quickly became clear that the creation was simple and straightforward. I think it was good that we started with a free trial version and that we were able to get a first impression and didn’t have to commit ourselves directly. In the end, we were not only convinced by the user-friendliness but also by the fact that our participants did not have to download the app and were able to access it directly through their browsers.

The only thing I missed was the ability to set headings for certain agenda items. At our conference, there were various thematic blocks, such as a session called “AI and Language Technologies in the Digitalization of Public Services”. Unfortunately, it was not possible to display that this is the title of the slot and to show that the subsequent lectures are assigned to this heading. Besides that, we had no problems.

LineUpr: When and how did you inform your participants about the event app?

Eileen: When the conference program was published at the end of September, we also introduced the app for the first time. In our news article on the ELRC website, we explained that the app not only moves the agenda to the participants’ cell phones but also provides new functions that we could not offer before – this includes giving feedback online, learning more about the lectures and speakers, receiving push notifications, etc.

Our Twitter followers were also informed in a corresponding post and the link to the app was included in the standard text of the registration confirmation. The QR code was also added to the actual event website.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Eileen: Unfortunately, we didn’t actively ask for feedback. But it would have been a good idea and I think we will definitely do it next time. The number of users gave us the first indication that the implementation of the app was a success and overall well received. With the help of Google Analytics, we found out that the app was used regularly (and repeatedly) on both conference days. We even had more app users than participants.

LineUpr: What hurdles and difficulties did you experience when introducing an event app for your event?

Eileen: There weren’t many hurdles. The fact that the participants also received printed programmes gave them the choice of whether they would like to follow the program via the app or on paper. I think it becomes more difficult if you completely get rid of paper because for many, printed material simply belongs to a conference. Nevertheless, I believe that the trend towards paperless conferences is increasing. And then such an app is worth its weight in gold.

LineUpr: Thank you for the great interview, Eileen. You recognized the added value of an event app with razor sharpness. We firmly believe that paper will take a back seat over the next few years and digital tools will take the lead.

More information about the ELRC is available on their website. The ELRC also created a short video to explain why voice data is so important.

We are already looking forward to more events with you.

The post LineUpr at the ELRC Conference – An Interview with Eileen Schnur from the DFKI first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

Injury prevention and health in everyday work life is becoming increasingly important. Individuals are more productive when they are safe and healthy.  Employers benefit from less downtime and more employee engagement.  Experts from the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Utah have been providing solutions to safety and health issues for many years. The center has built up an excellent reputation through professional conferences on health and safety at work.

One event that is particularly in focus here is the Annual Conference on Safety and Industrial Hygiene.  Entering paper-based session evaluation data by hand is very time consuming and often results in errors. To streamline operations, decrease printing costs, and increase data accuracy, the conference committee chose to switch to a digital program booklet with survey capability with LineUpr. We spoke to Diane Johnson, director of the training department at RMCOEH, about the use of LineUpr and why she was looking for a new tool in the first place. Have fun while reading.

LineUpr: Hello Diane. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and the University of Utah.

Diane: The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH) is part of the Department of Family and Preventative Medicine at the University of Utah.  The Continuing Education Division, of which I am the Director, offers courses and conferences on occupational safety and health topics.  We also house the Mountain West OSHA Education Center which is one of 18 officially authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. 

LineUpr: You used an event app from LineUpr for your Annual Utah Conference. Please tell us more about this event.

Diane: RMCOEH hosts an annual conference on Occupational Safety and Industrial Hygiene.  This conference is known among safety and health professionals as being the “best in the west” opportunity to stay current on innovation, regulation, and best practice.  

LineUpr: How did you learn about LineUpr and what added value does an event app offer you?

Diane: The conference committee has wanted to move evaluations to an electronic format for several years but found that the available options were prohibitively expensive and difficult to use.  Determined to find a solution, I did some research on app-based survey tool that had been proven in conference settings, regardless of the size of the event.  LineUpr appeared at the top of several recommended lists.  The reviews were good.  What I appreciated most was the ability to practice using the free tool.  When I discovered how simple LineUpr was to use and a prototype built in the free option, investing in the pay option was an obvious choice.  The tiered pay options ensured that we only paid for the service we needed. 

The greatest value to us was the survey feature.  We are required to do evaluations of each of our conference sessions.  Those had always been done on paper and then transferred into a data management tool by hand.  It took days of work to get that done.  Using LineUpr our attendees were able to complete the evaluations on their smart phones without an internet connection.  Best of all, we were able to simply download the survey data from the LineUpr site and import it into our data management system.

LineUpr: How did you use the Lineup profiles?

Diane: Profiles were used to highlight the Keynote speakers and presenters. We used this to add social presence and provide background information on each professional. This adds credibility and helps attendees choose the sessions they attend.

LineUpr: You also used the about pages. Tell us how.

Diane: The about pages were used to provide basic information about the venue, the events, parking, etc.  We included room locations and information about vendors and sponsors.

LineUpr: When and how did you inform your participants about the event app?

Diane: Because we were pretty close to the start of the conference when we discovered LineUpr, we didn’t have a lot of time to get the word out.   So, this year, we used signage at the door of every conference room that included the link and a QR code participants could scan.  We also had our MC announce that we were using it and gave time to people to download the app.  We also asked each presenter to remind attendees to use the app to complete the evaluations.  Lastly we used the messaging system within LineUpr to provide announcements and remind people to complete the evaluations.   For the 2020 conference, we will send out 3 notices, 4 weeks ahead of the conference with the link and instructions for the conference app.

LineUpr: Did you also use the survey features?

Diane: The survey feature is what we needed most from the LineUpr app.  We use the results to determine attendee satisfaction and for planning for next year’s event.  We also report numbers and results to our advisory boards.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Diane: Most of them really liked it. It was especially important that it did not require an internet connection to use.  Those who were less tech savvy opted for the paper version of our evaluation.

LineUpr: If someone is thinking about using an event app for their event, what would you advise them to do? When is an app useful and what are the disadvantages of an app?

Diane: The only thing that was less than optimal about the app was that we couldn’t download all of the survey results for all sessions at one time. We had to download them one at a time. This was very time consuming.  We hope that in the near future, LineUpr will provide a way for users to download all survey data at one time.

LineUpr: Thank you for the great interview, Diane. I can fully understand the problem with analog feedback. Unfortunately, many organizers still rely on old methods. Thank you for giving us a good insight into your conference.

If you want more information, we recommend the websites of the RMCOEH and the Department for Continuing Education. The RMCOEH is also on Facebook.

We are already looking forward to your next events and to how we can support them with LineUpr.

LineUpr offers an easy-to-use interface that makes it possible to creating the tool you need without requiring expert technical skills.  Our attendees enjoyed having all the conference information they needed at the tip of their fingers. – Diane Johnson, University of Utah

The post Event App instead of Paper Cuts – LineUpr at the RMCOEH Conference of the University Utah first appeared on LineUpr Blog.

In addition to B2B events, LineUpr is also ideal for scientific congresses and conferences. Someone who can judge that perfectly is Birgit Bujard. As the managing director of the German Society for Online Research, she hosts the General Online Research (GOR) Conference every year.

In this interview, she will tell us more about the GOR and how she could improve communication and organizational processes with an event app. As always, a great success story from the scientific sector. ?

LineUpr: Hello Birgit. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Please introduce yourself and the DGOF.

Birgit: The German Society for Online Research is an association committed to the furthering of online research and the interests of online researchers in Germany since it was founded in 1998. Online research ranges from the use of online-based data collection methods (e. g., via web surveys in online panels), mobile research with smartphones, tablets, and wearables to the collection and analysis of social media data, administrative data, data from passive measurements and other big data sources.

The DGOF sees itself as a bridge between different the disciplines that use online research methods and promotes the transfer between science and practice.

I am the managing director of DGOF.

LineUpr: You have already used LineUpr now for the third time at the GOR. What is this event about?

Birgit: The General Online Research (GOR) conference is the annual conference of DGOF and is the only European conference dedicated to discussing and analyzing innovation and current developments in the ever-changing field of digital research as well as promoting the exchange of ideas between researchers from academia and business.

LineUpr: Who is the typical target audience of your event and how do you reach them? Which channels and tools do you use for marketing and presentation?

Birgit: Researchers from the academic field (universities and academic research institutions) as well as researchers from the practical field – in particular from market research – attend GOR. To promote the event, we use social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter, and we also do classic publicity – especially in the area of market research media.

LineUpr: Do you also use printed products to market the event or to distribute information on site? If so, which and why?

Birgit: We still have a printed programme which is distributed to the participants on site. In principle, this contains the same as the app. But it has the disadvantage that short-term changes during the conference cannot be taken into consideration.

LineUpr: How did you use the app before, during and after the GOR?

Birgit: Since the programme can change until shortly before the conference – because a speaker gets sick or is otherwise hindered – we point to the possibility of using the App from about a week before the event to our conference visitors. Experience has shown that this is also enough time as most of the conference attendees familiarise themselves with the event details (i. e., which of our four conference tracks or conference sessions they want to attend, etc.) only shortly before the event. Our visitors use the app primarily to find out about the programme and the speakers – as well as organizational information.

LineUpr: How did your visitors react to the app?

Birgit: After the conference, we regularly conduct a follow-up survey among the conference visitors, in which the app was always positively mentioned in recent years.

LineUpr: How have your events changed by using an event app?

Birgit: We have been using the ConfTool for the conference scheduling for some time now. But this is primarily intended for PC use, so for us, the app is a valuable addition to give our conference visitors the opportunity to choose the format with which they want to inform themselves about the conference.

LineUpr: Do you think other scientific conferences can benefit from using an event app? If yes how?

Birgit: I think event apps always make sense at events because a large part of the participants will use their smartphone to search for information during the event.

LineUpr: Which top three tips would you like to give other organizers for the use of LineUpr?

Birgit: Take a little time to get involved with LineUpr. You can do a lot with it and the handling is very easy.

LineUpr: Thank you, Birgit, for the great interview. Scientific conferences and meetings are always a special experience and since we have been able to accompany you for the third time with an event app, we attach great importance to your opinion. If you want to know more about the DGOF, then visit their homepage. Of course, there is also an individual website for the GOR.

We are very excited for the GOR 2019.

The post Event Apps for Scientific Conferences – Experiences of the General Online Research Conference first appeared on LineUpr Blog.