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Articles Conference Reviews |
K.34 Conference NetworksK.34 (Almost) Live at the 4Cs: Re-visioning Conference Networks
The Chair, Bill Hart-Davidson, introduced this panel as a way to begin thinking about different ways to envision conferences with digital technologies and the different ways in which we can represent conferences like CCCCs in online spaces. Each panel member gave a different perspective on this issue, some discussing the networks through which this work can happen and others discussed how they are reporting on other CCCCs 2010 sessions through online networks. McNely discussed the networks through which we can share the kinds of information that we present at conferences. He described his own social graphs and how they changed with each new place that he moved, but that these ties have become more persistent, that writing work holds together our social graphs and sociocultural infrastructures over a distance. McNely argued that these previously invisible social ties are rendered visible through such writing work, and we are now able to conduct research through these newly visible communication ties. Backchannels, which have always been important for knowledge acquisition, are now visible in programs like Twitter and Google Wave. The implications for writing researchers are numerous, and McNely argued that these tools are helpful in knowledge work environments for managing projects, and to build collaboration across fields by interacting across social ties. There are also numerous publishing tools available for writing work, and anyone can be a broadcaster in a way that is interactive and conversational. Drapes discussed the idea of “instant karma” through social networks, that information broadcast through social media streams receives instant feedback from a variety of audiences. The information transmitted online is of variable quality, originating from one or more sources, and for a variety of known and unknown audiences. Drapes showed two videos clips she had filmed at the conference, one from the Latino/a Caucus Workshop and another from Paul Matsuda’s presentation. Drapes discussed the ways in the videos are shot and edited so that they can be rebroadcast for other audiences. Video is an important method to reach larger audiences within and outside of academia. McArdle described how he broadcast Paul Matsuda’s talk during the conference online using Ustream and how he integrated a realtime conversation on the site with tweetdeck. Users could comment using their Facebook or Twitter accounts. McArdle argued that these kinds of broadcasts allow moves beyond academic walls to other disciplines. While members of CCCCs are usually exploring other connected disciplines, broadcasting our conferences online gives us greater visibility and allows others to come to us. Walls provided a counterpoint to the rest of the panel by discussing the rhetorical effect of a broadcast presentation through the lens of actor network theory. He discussed a conference presentation as an artifact within a tightly bound rhetorical situation that is part of a larger network of activity. Walls noted that it would not do the same work or occupy the same space outside of that network. He argued that we need to theorize the infrastructure and the space around objects as much as we look at the objects themselves in order to understand their impact. Salinas discussed ways to remix traditional conference presentations for “everywhere audiences” and featuring user-generated content from nonspecialist producers. Salinas showed video from a caucus meeting and an interview with a presenter to discuss the subject of his talk, a community literacy center in Medellin. These interviews serve as a way to get more information online after sessions and to provide feedback on the talk through social media. Salinas argues that “almost” is not live or unmediated, and conference networks are limited by conference access to new media and technologies. Content ownership is also an important issue to discuss in determining how publicly we want to share this work online. Session Chair Hart-Davidson wrapped up the panel by discussing further ways to represent CCCCs at the conference itself and suggested a session where the best moments from the conference are represented. |