A: An E-Symposium is a web conference. On the day of the event, attendees have access to cutting edge presentations held by world-renowned speakers vie the E-Symposium Player. Click here for an example of such a presentation. In order to make up for potential time differences or schedule clashes, all presentations are archived and made available via the presentation archive. Each E-Symposium also features high-tech web-based instant messaging (DelegateChat) which allows you to see who else is online and to initiate a live chat with industry colleagues. This tool is often used by delegates throughout the year to communicate with their industry peers. Other useful tools include essential news coverage, industry reports & surveys as well as an E-Symposium Blog to 'hear and be heard'.
A: More and more, industry professionals are looking to save time and money by reducing travel commitments. With each E-Symposium, users have all the information they would collect from time-consuming industry shows and conferences at the end of their fingertips. Each E-Symposium has the tremendous benefit that everyone who has an Internet connection and sound can attend. The exchange of ideas, experience and know-how between industry professionals is no longer constrained by time or budget restrictions. E-Symposiums are not another option, but a new standard which will play a pivotal role in fostering global networks of industry intelligence.
A: No. Firstly, Webinars usually run for 30-60 minutes and are limited in attendance and limited in their outreach. An E-Symposium is a 1-day web conference with an international outreach, often breaking the 1000-delegate barrier. Secondly, Webinars are usually 'part of' a company's activity and are more often than not used as a marketing strategy by corporations to increases product and/or brand awareness. Our E-Symposia, on the other hand, are entirely objective and void of any favouritism which some Webinars may be subjected to.
A: You sign up via the registration pages, we send you a user id and password and you will gain access to the member pages. You will then be taken to an information page with a link to the E-Symposium's homepage where you will be able to go through the registration process and find out more about the event.
A: Our E-Symposia are free of charge to industry professionals. This is part of a strategy to generate high levels of quality attendance. This is not only a good way to attract large numbers of delegates, but also a great opportunity for you to witness the quality of the E-Symposium presentations, services and technology. If you enjoy the experience of the E-Symposium, you can purchase the E-Symposium on an iPod shuffle, making it mobile so you can listen to the cutting edge presentations on your way to work or when travelling on business.
A: No. Delegates are made aware that the E-Symposium will not be free of charge forever. The E-Symposium is only free of charge for its launch for the simple reason that we need healthy attendee numbers to kick-start the event. This strategy allows us to pass on the benefits as attendees get a real taste of the levels of quality and credibility they can expect next year. Not only will they realise the quality of the event but the presentation archive and useful tools such as DelegateChat (web-based instant messaging), essential industry news and technical sponsorship profiles will provide them with value throughout the year. When it then comes around to signing up for the next E-Symposium, they know it is money well spent.
A: Registration includes access to the member pages which include a DelegateZone with exclusive access to DelegateChat. This great tool enables you to see other delegates who are online and to make conversation, as you would in a real-life conference. DelegateChat is powered by cutting edge, web-based instant messaging technology. This means your conversation with colleagues is live and as instant as if you were standing in front of them. Attendees often use DelegateChat throughout the year to keep in touch with industry colleagues. The DelegateZone also provides you access to the DelegateBoard [which is a message board where you can exchange views with industry colleagues] and a list of must-read industry publications. In addition, you will have access to the TEK-centre, which features technical sponsor profiles, essential news and industry reports & surveys as well as an industry blog [web log]. And of course, you have full access to all live presentations as well as unlimited access to the presentation archive which is made available 24 hours after the event closes.
A: DelegateChat is our web-based instant messaging technology. It enables you to see other delegates who are online and to make conversation, as you would in a real-life conference. DelegateChat is powered by cutting edge, web-based instant messaging technology. This means your conversation with colleagues is live and as instant as if you were standing in front of them. Attendees often use DelegateChat throughout the year to keep in touch with industry colleagues.
A: You will see the speaker in a static photograph which will enable you to put a face to the voice (you will more than likely have heard of the speaker, as our speakers are of high calibre).
A: As an attendee, you have unlimited access to the E-Symposium presentation archive. You can also download the presentation (typically a PowerPoint presentation) and related materials in Word and PDF format.
A: You don't need to cancel if your registration if free of charge as you will still be entitled to 12 months access to the presentation archive and all other useful membershipc sections such as the DelegateZone and the TEK-centre. This is also a consideration for paying attendees. If you cannot make the date, please be aware that you can view all presentations via the presentation archive for a total period of 12 months.
Cancellations received by e-mail with acknowledgement of receipt at least 7 days before the commencement of the first E-Symposium presentation will be reimbursed, except that 30% of the total of the order will be withheld for administrative costs. Should you cancel less than 7 days before the commencement of the first E-Symposium presentation, the full amount remains due. However, attendees may be replaced by any other person from the same company until 48 hours before the first E-Symposium presentation.
A: If you are signing up for the first E-Symposium in its series, registration is free of charge, so just register and use the presentation archive at your own convenience. Otherwise, just sign up for the 'off-the-air' package which grants you access to unlimited viewing of the web conference presentation archive and related documentation, as well as the DelegateZone and TEK-centre areas. It is also 25% cheaper than the 'on-'the-air' package.
A: Our e-commerce partner is Worldpay. For millions of people around the world, WorldPay is the way to pay - trusted and secure. An important part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, the 5th biggest banking group in the world, WorldPay payment solutions are trusted by thousands of businesses, big and small. In addition to the highly secured Worldpay e-commerce infrastructure, sensitive data is encrypted via VeriSign SSL Certification.
A: We can process multi-currency alongside PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Delta, Solo and Switch online and also accept company check and bank transfer for offline registrations.
A: The only delegate(s) who will see your chat is the delegate you have invited/have been invited by and any delegates which you invite into a chat. Other delegates cannot just 'push in'.
A: The E-Symposium runs over 1-2 days which makes it difficult to fit all topics into the program. We also make sure that we do not run out of material and create a long-term web conference series which will cover the broad scope of this sector. The chances are that your topic of choice will be part of the next E-Symposium. As we already have the topics for the next E-Symposium in place, please submit your request and we will inform you whether your topic will indeed be covered during the next web conference.
A. The image you see is a photograph which is provided so that you may put a face to the voice. We are not using video streaming, as the possible technical problems for users outweigh the benefits over audio webcasting.
A: No, you don't. Your audio/video content is completely hosted on high speed video servers. All you need to run the application can be accessed through your desktop PC via an Internet connection. You do not need to purchase any servers or software and you also don't need to download a plug-in.
A: Yes. We can transmit at less than 56Kbps so that even audience members with lower Kbps modem receive a smooth stream of data. In addition, by controlling both the data rate and the streaming media from dedicated servers, our software has the intelligence to dynamically adjust the rate of information flow to the audience member's machine.
A: If you are able to view and hear the demo, then you will be able to fully access the content of each E-Symposium presentation. If you have difficulty receiving the audio at that location, it is likely indicative of a problem with the media player or soundcard on your PC. Click here to check your system compatibility now.
As a Mac user, you will obtain a special link for the E-Symposium, which is will be tailored to the technical specifications of Mac. As a Mac user, you will also receive a local dial-in number to access the audio portion of each presentation. As of summer 2005, Mac users will be able to view presentations from their PC with headsets, just as any PC user.
The AOL browser may not work properly. You should install and use Internet Explorer for use with AOL. Download Internet Explorer http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.asp and install. Installation is actually quite easy. Using your current AOL browser, click on the IE link above. Download the IE browser software and install it on your home computer. Once installed, all you need to do is login to AOL as you normally would, then "minimize" the AOL browser window and start up Internet Explorer, That's it, you're done!
A: In order to hear the content you must have a working audio card, your computer speakers must be turned on and your volume must be set at an appropriate level. If these conditions are met and you still cannot hear audio, try adjusting your volume from within your computer's control panel and from within the player.
To adjust the volume on your computer's Control Panel:
Select Start.
Click Settings.
Select Control Panel.
Select Sounds.
Select Multimedia.
Select the Audio tab.
Click Volume button under Audio Playback.
Turn up the volume. (If it is greyed out, your system is not configured for sound.)
If you have checked all these possibilities, it could also mean you could use an updated codec.
If you are a Mac user, you may also need to call in for the audio portion of the web conference. Please contact support for assistance.
A: If your browser locks up during the webcast, clear your browser's cache and restart the browser.
To clear your cache in Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5 or above:
On the Tools menu
Select Internet Options
Select the General tab.
Select Delete files from the Temporary Internet Files section
Click OK.
To clear your cache in a Netscape® browser:
On the Edit menu select Preferences
Click Advanced and Cache.
Select Clear Disk Cache
Click OK.
Select Clear Memory Cache
Click OK.
Netscape® users also should try using Internet Explorer if the problem persists.
A: The Windows Operating System sets a default click sound for when web pages are changed or frames are refreshed. Our live webcast slide changing technology uses a method which may induce this sound throughout the webcast. The sound can be disabled by without affecting any other functionality of your Internet Explorer browser.
Windows 95/98/2000: Open Start Menu / Settings / Control Panel and then double click on the "Sounds and Multimedia" icon. Now choose the "Sounds" tab and scroll down in the "Sound Events" window until you reach the "Windows Explorer" section. In this section there is a "Start Navigation" option to assign sounds to. In the "Name" Drop down menu select "None" and then hit "OK".
Windows NT: Open Start Menu / Settings / Control Panel and then double click on the "Sounds" icon. Scroll down in the "Sound Events" window until you reach the "Windows Explorer" section. In this section there is a "Start Navigation" option to assign sounds to. In the "Name" Drop down menu select "None" and then hit "OK".
This will eliminate all clicks when pressing buttons or hypertext links in the browser.
A: If your computer crashes when you try to watch the webcast, it is likely that your computer is not configured to meet the minimum system requirements. If your system does meet these requirements, but you are still experiencing problems, consider reinstalling your operating system, browser and/or media player and retrying the webcast. Netscape users also should try using Internet Explorer. Click here to check your system compatibility now.
A: This can happen if you are logging in from a different computer and you didn't correctly input your login information on the new workstation. This can also happen if you clear your cache and your cookies off of your current browser. The e-symposium site no longer recognizes you as having logged in. Try entering your name and password again and the system should recognize you.
A. One of the tabs on the E-Symposium Player is called 'Q&A' when live and 'Feedback' when archived. This is the tab you use to type in and submit your question. When live, the speaker will read out your question and answer it. When archived, the speaker will answer your question via e-mail.
A. There are 3 areas to DelegateChat: 1. the public chat room, 2. Private Messaging and 3. Private Meeting rooms. The public chat room can be accessed by all delegates and is therefore not recommended for sensitive conversations. The other two areas are secure and no other delegate can view your communication exchange. Use Private Messaging for 1-to-1 and create private meeting rooms for 1-to-Many.
A. Just click on the delegate in the right-hand column of the DelegateChat window and select 'Private message' and away you go. Please note that only chat typed in the new 'Private message' window is secure.
A. At the top, of the DelegateChat window, beside the drop-down menu, click 'Add', enter the room name and select 'private'. Then, select the newly created private meeting room from the drop-down - you are now logged in to the meeting room. To invite delegates to this secure meeting room for closed discussion, click on the arrow left of the public E-symposium chat (this will bring up all delegates), click on the relevant delegate and click on 'Invite'. Make sure that you select the correct room in the 'Invite user to :' menu and include a message with your invitation. Please note that only delegates invited by you can join this private meeting room. The room will be erased when you close DelegateChat.
A. Click on the name in the right column of the DelegateChat window and select 'Profile' - a new window will open. Look under 'Additional Information' for the delegate's profile.
