Collaborative virtual conferences: using exemplars to shape future research questions

The conference is a long-standing tradition in professional circles, playing a central role in informal and formal knowledge building and social network maintenance. Networked communication technologies have influenced both conference logistics and organization and the intellectual and social experience of conference participants. Conducting a virtual conference raises many issues that are directly relevant to the study of information technologies in organizational settings. Virtual conferences may allow for broader access to social networks, but also impose significant constraints on the communication environment. This paper investigates two conferences conducted in the 3-D virtual environment ActiveWorlds, and one conference conducted primarily in a text-based chat environment. Text and video records are balanced by the personal observations of the author, who participated in an online panels and presentations in each environment. This paper aims to highlight the potential benefits and challenges of collaborative virtual environments in mediating professional conferences.