Why Use a Web Conference?

The Web conference has pretty well been accepted at all large Web sites as the way to encourage community and provide a service. For many communities it has replaced mailing lists and especially newsgroups. Possessing the advantages of mailing lists for delivery and the of the Web for multi-media publishing, the message boards of Web conferences provide convenience, ease of use, and attractive display. By being a member you can:

• Meet and follow discussions of people who have expertise in the field.
• Keep abreast with the latest issues. Debate leading-edge issues.
• Learn of references to other sources of related information.
• Receive announcements of conferences, meetings, seminars.
• Ask questions. Solicit suggestions from others about a problem.
• Start your own web conference for family, friends, or co-workers. This is easily done at Yahoo Groups and Delphi.

Major Advantage: Ease of Use

In addition to the usual benefits of discussion groups, the message board is easy to use.

• Subscription is often as easy as clicking on a button - your e-mail address is submitted automatically.
• Reading past conversations may be open to anyone who goes to the site, or may be restricted to members only.
• Messages are often sorted according to subject - by thread, as it is called.
• Some Web conferences have an e-mail component. You can receive the new postings by e-mail or submit your own. Use the Web site when you want to search or review a sustained discussion.

Are there any disadvantages?

Yes, a few.

• Not everyone has easy access to the Web. Mailing lists are still more accessible.
• Many of the forums can be read by any passer-by. The lack of privacy can make people feel more exposed, and diminish the sense of belonging to a community. Use common sense. Post under a pseudonym and don't give out your email address.
• Even in private forums, the easy access to Web archives may constrain one from writing freely.
• Where the conference does not offer e-mail delivery of messages, people have to remember to go to the Web site to check for new messages. It's too much trouble.
• Using a Web conference is slow: it takes time to receive each Web page.
• Subscription usually requires divulging certain facts about yourself: address, age, income. The sites promise confidentiality, but you have to consider how much you are willing to tell them. Some sites ask too much.

Where to next?

This has given you a taste. Now let's find a web conference to match your interests.