Scheduling poll: Would you use an online schedule during the convention?

[JeffT]

Publicity team here, working on the various options to communicate all the scheduling goodness to the attendees.

First off, a status update--we're working on the schedule and I expect a huge amount of info to be posted in 24 hours--most likely the entire schedule, all event blurbs, hotel map, food map, exhibitors/artist map, and hours for all events. Once this is up, it will be posted on the front page.

But, sometimes these change during the convention. The traditional way to communicate this is with signage at the Info Booth, and updated schedules outside the rooms.

We're considering continuing the online, live-updated schedule which has been on the web site for the past two years. This is a web page which is designed to be very simple so you can use it not only on a laptop, but on iPhones, BlackBerrys, Palm Pres, and yes, even Windows Mobile devices. When you move the mouse over an event in the grid, a floating box will appear with that event's blurb, so you don't need to go cross-reference it in the program guide. The problem is, I'm not sure very many people at all use it. If not, we may eliminate it, since it takes time to set up and maintain.

Another option is to announce at-con schedule changes on Twitter. That way, you refer to your pocket guide, except for the exceptions that you have received via Twitter.

So, I've put it to a poll, and let's see what people think. Which option would you use? Online live schedule? Twitter? Both? Neither?

[BlackjackGabbiani]

You assume that enough of the population will have those to make it worthwhile.

[oslapedo]

I like twitter and all but I won't have a laptop during con so I'll go with the traditional means.

And hurrah for the schedule~

[JeffT]

You assume that enough of the population will have those to make it worthwhile.

I've made no such assumption... that's the whole purpose of this poll.

[JeffT]

I like twitter and all but I won't have a laptop during con so I'll go with the traditional means.

And hurrah for the schedule~

Twitter can be used without a laptop--you can subscribe via SMS to your phone.

[oslapedo]

If I could ever figure that out twitter'd be my second choice~

[LtCommanderRichie]

If I sign up for Twitter within the next week I would be game for twitter updates.

[Sugarlat]

I like the online idea really.
I don't use twitter and I don't plan on it XD but I'll most likely go by the pocket guide and online cause I tend to check the forums or something every night.

[DancingTofu]

Given a hotel where I can actually access the internet, I would make ample use of the Online Schedule, although I doubt it would make me any more likely to actually attend events outside of gaming.

[darkhero]

i myself would like to have twitter updates as well an online schedule

[seshetaxhikaru]

I would say the pocket guides/programs and the online web.  I wont have my laptop with me during the day, but in the evenings I would check the website for any changes to the schedule for the following day.

I dont use twitter and wont use twitter, so that  option wonuldnt help me out any.

Just my thoughts on it.

[Higuma]

Twitter on my phone would be great cause I always forget about some panels that I want to go to.

[Trumby]

Granted the only way this will apply to me specifically is if people ask about changes..I personally really like the idea of cons using twitter to do schedule updates.

AX used twitter a bunch. Announcing events and such, when signings were, etc. It was very handy

[Sutie]

It'd be nice to have updates up until the con but at the actual event I wouldn't want to dash to my laptop to check every few hours to make sure things I wanted to attend are still happening.
I like the idea of twitter updates though.

[Runa]

I won't be carrying a phone during the convention, and I doubt that my laptop would have internet access, so I'll be depending upon signage and other traditional methods of learning about changes to schedule. 

[nikkiolie]

I would like for the updates to be posted somewhere at the convention because I wont be checking the internet at all during the con so I will have no way of seeing it that way.

[EveofAbyss]

Same here. Signs and the Pocket Guide will be my only means of getting schedule information. I usually don't have computer access.

[Man of the Public]

I'd love for both twitter updates and a web page. It would make things so much easier.

[RemSaverem]

Best would be if the hotel had those scrolling computerized signs outside the rooms   Helpful in previous years (when up-to-date).

I "grew up in" the SCA so I believe in "Town Criers" (folks actually going around making verbal announcements in passageways). Or carrying signs or handing out fliers.

I do not have Twitter, because my old, cheap, hand-me-down cell phone, using pay-as-you-go as I can't afford a contract, is not Twitter-capable. However, if I had it, I'd probably consult it, but probably only once or twice a day. It's generally way too loud and way too busy to check a phone during con, unless there's a situation such as a panelist or volunteer no-show.

If KC had been able to afford the elevated rates for the Hilton's wifi in prog rooms, the CS would have someone online a lot, to download fics for our contest, reading corner, and Bedtime Stories. But given that the only internet in the hotel is going to be either the outrageous 49 cents/minute, pre-charging your credit card $19.95 even if you're only going to be on for 5 minutes, for which, at only 2 per first floor lobby, there will likely be an outrageous rate; or people who can afford the surcharge to pay for it in their rooms and are traveling in such a way that they can bring their laptops; I would say that the online changes will most likely be observed by those who are commuting from home, and/or, those who are attending only one day.

[princessmoon]

I would be so immersed at the con that I would probably not seek a schedule other than what is on my person--the good old fashioned paper schedule.  My cell is too slow to access anything online, and I will not be carrying a laptop with me. In the past, I did appreciate looking at schedules on monitors at previous K-cons, although those were for individual event rooms and not a full K-con schedule.

^_^

[leonmasteries]

I don't have a computer, and my cell phone, even if it did have twitter, wouldn't be able to access it because I don't have service at this time... So I have to look for sign's to find out what's going on.

[oslapedo]

First off, a status update--we're working on the schedule and I expect a huge amount of info to be posted in 24 hours--most likely the entire schedule, all event blurbs, hotel map, food map, exhibitors/artist map, and hours for all events. Once this is up, it will be posted on the front page.

It's almost been 24 hours o3o

[tofutakeout]

I'd find the internet one very helpful but at the same time useless because I know a lot of people won't have access to internet so easily. I know I most likely won't. :/

[JeffT]

Just to remind everyone, no matter what, we will attempt to make all schedule revisions visible on signage. Online options would be in addition to--not instead of--signage.

(Schedule still coming tonight. Will be slightly more than 24 hours from last night's post, but it's coming in a few hours.)

[Kimiski]

I'd just be replying on the pocket guide and signs outside events
Wont have internet acess and no way to get twitter on the phone I got.

But If I had to choose I think twitter would be better

[Kimiski]

Schedule still coming tonight. Will be slightly more than 24 hours from last night's post, but it's coming in a few hours.)





I think I'm going to faint!!  

[princessmoon]

Just to remind everyone, no matter what, we will attempt to make all schedule revisions visible on signage. Online options would be in addition to--not instead of--signage.

(Schedule still coming tonight. Will be slightly more than 24 hours from last night's post, but it's coming in a few hours.)

THANK YOU--K-CON STAFF--FOR EVERYONE'S HARD WORK TO MAKE THIS CON SO AWESOME!!!

[The_Geek]

*Looks at post thinking, "That person is right!"* Thank you staff at Kumoricon! Putting this together every year makes the (anime/gaming) world a little brighter.

[BangBangNeko]

I'm living in the dark ages
How about smoke signals or Greek Runners updating me regularly?

Whats tweet?
Birds sending messages, so cool.
I'm going to get me a parrott for my shoulder.

[JeffT]

The schedule is now posted (please discuss in this thread).

[LadyZombie]

I will definitely be using online updates. That's the whole reason I started following on Twitter so I didn't get left out of the loop come con time.

[kayu1111]

It would be fine to use that as long as you're not proposing making it essential that people get their info this way, which I'm sure you're not....some of us just don't have iphones or anything like that.

[JeffT]

It would be fine to use that as long as you're not proposing making it essential that people get their info this way, which I'm sure you're not....some of us just don't have iphones or anything like that.

I already commented on that:

Just to remind everyone, no matter what, we will attempt to make all schedule revisions visible on signage. Online options would be in addition to--not instead of--signage.

[camname21]

This would have SOOO failed had it had any effort put into it, with the lack of internet connection and even cell phone service at the hotel most would have to wander the streets to get any signal for an online schedule.

[JeffT]

This would have SOOO failed had it had any effort put into it, with the lack of internet connection and even cell phone service at the hotel most would have to wander the streets to get any signal for an online schedule.

I am not sure what you mean by this. We did put effort into this, and it worked. We continued to do it because enough people said in the poll they would find it useful. If some people don't want to use it, that's fine. It's an extra option. How do you classify this as a "failure"?

Some people go home in the evening and look at it then. It provides an alternative to the PDF schedule leading up to the con. There are at least six cellular networks accessible at the con, and probably more (Verizon, Sprint's CDMA, Sprint's iDEN, AT&T, T-Mobile, Clearwire), as well as whatever Wi-Fi people can find and the hotel's Internet. Further, more people are using cellular->Wi-Fi routers to expose Internet to additional people nearby such as the "Mi-Fi" device, WMWifiRouter software on Windows Mobile devices, and JokuiSpot software on Symbian devices.

[camname21]

Well it works sure, I was just saying if it the schedule was gone all crazy with on the web making it more appealing beyond a basic neat layout.  As for it failing, probably overstatement.  Yes we had a working online schedule and yes people could access it.  How well could they access it inside the building going from event to event compared to just taking out a pocket guide is more where my thoughts are.  Even this was fairly doable, as you say there are a wide variety of services to get said info.  I guess I'm just not up on my tech to care enough for connecting to the web with iffy service(on my phone) when I have a physical object in my pocket with everything I need to know already.  You guys did great, don't mind my outdated thoughts.

[Rushifa]

I  think both are a good idea, I know a lot of people who have iphones and the like (though I'm sadly not one of them!).  For me, it would also depend on how reliable the internet at the hotel is.  I can bring my little netbook to con easily, but that doesn't mean I'll be able to access the internet, so in that case I'd most likely be relying on old fashioned means of communication, or twitter updates on my phone.