An online conference shares many of the attributes of one held in person, but also has some important differences. The online conference is structured around specific topics of interest.  A content foundation of submitted papers will form a base on which discussion of the topics can be constructed. Once the papers are available for reading and some early comments on those papers presented, the discussion will open up to all of the attendees. Questions, comments and differing perspectives will help everyone explore the topic more fully. Online moderators will be available to help guide the conversation and help anyone experiencing difficulties reading or posting discussion comments.

Do I need to be online at a special time to participate?

One of the great things about an online conference is that you attend at your convenience and from wherever you are.  You don't have to travel anywhere and there's no specific time when you need to attend. Some people may attend from their offices during the day while others will drop in after putting the kids to bed in the evening.  Some people will drop in several times a day.  Others may come less frequently.  It is completely up to you to decide when and how often to come.

But won't I miss something while I'm not online?

No. Unlike a conference held in person, the discussion takes place over time rather than all at once.  Online discussions can continue over several days or even weeks.  Much like a series of email or letters, the discussion unfolds over time with everyone able to see everyone else's comments as the discussion progresses.   When you as a participant want to add a comment, the process is similar to sending an email or filling out an online form. You simply enter your comment into an online text form and when you are finished, your comment is added to the discussion. It is immediately available to viewing by other participants, but also becomes part of the permanent discussion transcript.

When you come to the conference, you will be able to see all of the new comments that have been added since the last time you attended. You can even go back and look through the old thread of discussion leading up to the present point. Even if you come in to the Conference (or to a particular discussion within the conference) after it has started, you can
easily read through the discussion history and leap right in.

How do I know who wrote the comments in a discussion?

The author of each comment is identified by name so that everyone knows who it is that is "speaking" in the discussion. The author's name will also link to further information about the person and an email address that can be used for private correspondence. 

While we hope that most of these interactions will occur in the public space, there are instances where a private message is useful. Each participant is required to provide an email address during registration and supply some very basic information.  Beyond that, participants are free to tell as much or as little about themselves as they would like.

There will also be a special Introductions area where participants can introduce themselves and share information about themselves and their interest in the topics. This is purely voluntary, much like introducing oneself in a public meeting or forum.

What if I need help?

The online conference system is easy to use and works just like other parts of the world wide web. But of course it takes a little getting used to. There are a number of resources available to help.

An online help manual provides a good overview of how to participate in the online conference. It includes clear examples of how to move around the
conference, how to read discussion comments and how to enter comments of your own.

A New User Practice area provides a place to practice outside of the actual topic discussions. This area also includes some Tips and Pointers to help you make full use of the system.

Conference moderators will be online frequently and will respond quickly to questions or problems. Each page of the conference includes a button to send a quick email to a moderator. You will receive an email response, usually within a few hours at the most.