More specifically, virtual events and conferences have now attracted a significant amount of importance in recent years for businesses and organizations as well as the individuals. Software for virtual meetings emerged as more critical in the context of various events starting from mega conferences for countries to specialized presentations for selected industries in a web format. What is driving such change? Video chat apps. Such platforms have now become a driving force as to how individuals as well as groups(s) communicate, work, and disseminate data in an online setting.
Getwidget is a software development company, and like many other tech-savvy organizations it is ready to rock the new possibilities that video chat apps have opened for event communication. In this blog post we will be discussing how video chat apps are revolutionizing virtual events and conferences, the necessary features that can be incorporated into them and lastly; privacy and security considerations necessary for video chats.
The Rise of Virtual Events and Conferences
Before such applications as video call apps, organizing meetings and conferences was only possible by using huge halls, long traveling and countless organizational prerequisites. Candidates must be ‘present’ physically, this limits the participation to people with enough time and money to be able to travel to such meetings. However, with advancement in technology especially in video conferencing this has not been the case.
Tejaswini and Shinde also opine that virtual events and conferences have become increasingly popular because they are convenient, flexible and inexpensive. The social streaming of events has ensured that attendees do not have to move from house to house or even from their workplaces to attend events physically. More importantly, it has provided an opportunity to have a conversation with a global audience without being physical bound.
Here, video chat apps have primarily stood at the center of change by acting as the technology enablers of virtual interactions. Due to these platforms, it becomes easy to communicate, be it an opening address, a panel or debate, business interactions, or dialogue sessions, or workshops.
Features That Make Video Chat Apps Essential for Virtual Events
If socializing platforms are to fully exploit the opportunities provided by virtual events, they must provide features other than the fundamental video calling. They have to offer a set of functionalities that will allow attendees and organizers to get the best and memorable experience during the event. Here are some of the key features that make video chat apps indispensable for virtual events:
High-Quality Video and Audio
Of course, the primary requirement for any video chat app is the possibility to provide clear video and sound. This is why communication is crucial at any event and bad video or audio quality during webinars will lead to confusion, bore and frustration. Regardless of the format, VIP is a live event where the attendees must be able to hear and see the participants in order to follow the discussion.
The primary needs of these applications are served by the high-quality real-time video compression and transmission, high-definition audio, and adaptive streaming technologies that top-end video chat applications use to provide users with the best experience irrespective of the exact device and available Internet connection.
Software for Remote Control and Collaboration
During virtual presentations, sharing the computer display is a relevant function for speakers and presenters. This makes it possible for them to share slides, charts, and all sorts of graphic displays which are important in ensuring that key points made in the presentation are well understood. That capability for real-time information exchange is desirable and increases the interactivity in virtual conferences.
However, besides screen sharing other features of collaboration like virtual white boards, file markups and live polls could help engage the attendees in the session. These tools also improve networking since the attendees can work together on projects, share information and make comments in real time.
Multi-Device Compatibility
It also means that virtual events are not limited to hosting from a desktop or a laptop anymore. Today’s attendee must be able to engage with events from a range of devices: mobile, tablet, laptop, or television. To make a video chat app durable it is necessary to ensure that it works well with as many platforms as possible including mobile applications and a desktop application.
It is crucial to make your event compatible with multiple devices in order to be free for the guests anytime and anywhere they will be.
Chat Functions
Considering that virtual events’ major channels of information exchange are videos and audios, it is essential to discuss chats as well. Most of the audience feel more comfortable typing questions, comments or asking the speaker a question using a chat application. Many event participants may benefit from a chat feature that was designed properly to offer a means for sharing ideas and opinions during the conference.
Many of these chat applications include features such as one-on-one messaging, group messaging and even file sharing which can make the event much more engaging. These features can be employed by the organisers to answer questions, to have question and answer sessions or to take quick polls.
Importance of Data Security in Virtual Interactions
With the rising popularity of virtual events, there is also a worry on the level of security for data. It is very likely to encounter the sharing of personal and payment data along with other conversations in online events. Hence, guaranteeing people the safety of the video chat app platform is very important.
A secure messaging app makes it possible to have individual and group chats all of which are safe from other persons’ scrutiny. Currently, the popular platforms for video chat employ end-to-end encryption for ensuring the security of the conversation as in this case nobody but the addressee or the sender can decode the received or sent messages.
The security of personal data is not limited to messaging only. When there are shared documents or files during the conference it becomes important that these files are equally protected. It can result in identity theft, financial losses and harm to that company’s reputation. File sharing features should enable users to share documents and participants have to be assured that their information cannot be given to third parties.
From the perspective of the business and the event hosts, such high regard to data protection is crucial to audiences’ trust and their unrestricted permission to treat their information as personal data.
How Mobile Apps Are Shaping Virtual Events
With mobile technology’s integration into people’s lives, exhibiting virtual events has been revolutionized. Are we yet to recall the days when attending a conference was synonymous with fixing a desktop or laptop computer? Today, having mobile devices, individuals communicate mostly with the help of mobile devices, which grant the availability to attend events wherever they are.
Audience members can engage in chat apps during the live sessions, even view presentations, or even get to know other attendees through their phone or tablets. On this level, virtual events are a lot more participative than physical counterparting since it allows people to attend who might not have been in a position to do so.
Mobile application for virtual events is primarily controlled by the ease, efficiency, and compatibility with Android and IOS platforms. Mobile applications also allow attendees to communicate with other participants, view live stream sessions and access materials shared during virtual events.
File Sharing and Collaboration in Virtual Events
Conferencing requires the exchange of lots of data in form of texts, graphics, documents reports, and presentations among others. In video chat applications, there is always a confirmation that the participants are able to obtain the necessary materials within the event.
Sharing of files is not a one to many business involving the transmission of documents or media. It also embraces the features for sharing of content upon delivery of a presentation to enable attendees access additional materials relative to the session. Further, messengers embedded into these apps let users easily share files, PDFs, numbers, images, etc., all inside a safe space.
This level of participation makes it possible to reproduce the interaction and effectiveness of real life conferences, where participants have common resources and share working exhibits in real-time.
Privacy Considerations for Virtual Events
Another key factor likely to influence attendees, especially when participating in virtual events, is issues to do with privacy. Most people are very cautious when it comes to posting the information and attending the massive online conferences.
In this regard, apps for video chat must integrate great privacy options to guarantee that the data of users will not be compromised and that the whole process is secure. This includes better protected login details, second factor authentication, and possibility of choosing what details of other attendees to disclose. There should also be privacy issues on recorded sessions, that recorded sessions should only be made available to those persons who should have access to them.
To businesses, privacy is not just about the law – it is all about making sure the audience trusts what you do. To succinctly, guaranteeing security and privacy is a key way of building up trust and credibility by the participants on the event platform.
Future Trends in Video Chat and Virtual Events
When it comes to video chat apps and virtual events new trends are constantly emerging as technologies improve. Certainly, one of the most thrilling trends is the combination of augmented reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in event experiences. These technologies can affect virtual events with a more enhancing factor because the attendees can be capable of participating in the event just like they are physically being there in the venue.
Another trend is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) that will improve the atmosphere of the event. These incorporated intelligent chatbots can guide the attendees, answer questions related to events and recommend related events accordingly. Moreover, machine learning will allow organisers to gain more understanding of people’s behaviour on such events and utilising such information promoters will be able to create better events.
With these trends persisting, Getwidget is determined in production of advanced software solutions for virtual events and conferences growing needs.
Conclusion
Video chat apps are being used for new forms of virtual presentations and meetings for events and conferences to become much more open, more accessible and cheaper. These apps possess specific features including high-quality video and audio, screen sharing capabilities, chat tools, as well as secure file sharing that makes it possible for event planners to conduct perfect virtual events.
In Getwidget, we know that the development of the video chat apps must have a solid structure, which is safe and intuitive by the user’s side. From an invite-only team meeting to an international professional conference, we stay focused on delivering value for your virtual event and meeting experience while maintaining data protection.
Expanding and stabilising technology makes the future of virtual-events more accurate and reliable. Getwidget is here to make sure that your hands remain full of all instruments necessary for building interesting, captivating, and safe facilities for your audience.
