Second screen technology increase the engagement of the audience

Second screen technology increase the engagement

The offer of additional contents and of interactive possibilities through mobile devices helps the speakers, even the weakest ones.

1. Smartphone revolution
Smartphone revolution is there for all to see. Almost every one of us has a smartphone in our pocket and we check it, on average, over 100 times a day! Smartphones can now do things that seemed impossible until not long ago. Even the meeting participants constantly use their mobile devices to tweet about the event, post pictures on Instagram or take notes. So far so good. However, they also use them for inappropriate activities, such as checking their email, reading the news, chatting with their friends and playing silly games. Especially when the speaker is a bit boring and the slides are even worse, mobile devices turn into an irresistible temptation. The main problem of the speakers is to keep their audience’s attention. The most obvious solution consists in providing interesting contents and in being brilliant speakers. If it were that simple… But don’t worry, here’s the good news: today there are new technologies that help the participants to focus on the discussed topics just using their smartphones.

Second screen technology increase the engagement

2. Second screen
Through a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) is now possible to provide additional contents related to what it is shown on another device, e.g. a TV screen. This technology is called “second screen” and it has been created to add interactive functionalities to a basic content like, for example, a TV show. The most typical example of this kind of technology is social TV. The owners of latest generation TV sets can already use this functionality.
Second screen technology has recently been adopted for events as well, making the presentations more entertaining for the audience. Additional tables, quick surveys, short videos, notes and much more can be transmitted to any mobile device in real time during the presentation. These apps transform the device into an extra information tool that becomes part of the “learning experience” and enhances the long-desired engagement.

Second screen technology increase the engagement

3. Basic performances
The simplest apps allow the speaker to send slides to every mobile device in the room and the participants can take notes and send them to the speaker who, in turn, can answer in real time. It is possible to conduct surveys or take a vote and the results can be displayed both on the big screen in the room and on the mobile devices of the audience. The participants can also chat with each other and transform the audience in an active community. In order to use these apps an internet connection is required. The easiest tool can be activated directly with Power Point and doesn’t even need a specific app.

4. The most advanced systems
The most advanced systems allow the speaker to share contents even with people who are not in the same room, providing that they are connected to the internet. Some systems with powerful data analysis capabilities are able to measure the engagement and the attention of the audience in real time. Each presentation is assigned a specific score based on the number of participants, interaction and active engagement of the audience.
The comments of the audience can be posted on Facebook, Twitter or other channels, thus boosting the communication. Other functionalities can be included as well, such as the event schedule, the notice of the beginning of another session, invitations to sectoral events within the main event, private messages between the participant and, of course, the event analytics. There is also a “lottery” function that picks one of the participants of the event.

Second screen technology increase the engagement

5. Non-stop voting
There are apps specialized in the non-stop voting of the speech, through which the participants can judge any single moment of the presentation by simply touching a button on the screen. For instance, one can say 1) if they like the contents of the presentation, 2) if they agree or disagree with it 3) if they find the speech confusing 4) if they want the speaker to speed up. The speaker, in turn, can adjust the contents, the speed and the in-depth analysis of the topic.
The results of the survey, the answers to the questionnaires, the questions of the audience, the votes, everything is saved in the report, the profiles of the participants included. A powerful tool to calculate ROI.

6. No way back
There is no way back. Mobile devices have entered meeting rooms and are here to stay. Once competing with the weakest speakers, now helping, boosting and… alas, controlling them.

Second screen technology increase the engagement