When setting up a use your imagination - web browsing is a tiny part of what is possible!.
Plan ahead. Don't assume your venue can flick a switch and provide the appropriate connections.
Place your kiosks in high traffic areas. Use your Cyber Café to build traffic in other areas (exhibits, book store).
Videos, colorful screensavers, and screen animations attract attention, and encourage exploration.
Remember viewer privacy. Keep some distance between kiosks (we figure on two computers, back-to-back, in the center of a minimum 8x8 space).
Have knowledgeable assistants (proctors) in the area to help with problems and facilitate usage.
Include quick surveys and other online feedback for instant communication. Keep all information brief and simple to find. Reward users for completing online information.
Keep the interface fresh by providing new information as often as possible.
If necessary, place a time limit on usage. Consider something like "if people are waiting, please limit kiosk use to 7 minutes."
Know your audience, and design the interface appropriately –financial planners want a stock ticker and quick quote look-up, doctors may want a sophisticated messaging system.
To encourage sponsorship, think reports. A well-designed Cyber Café can capture more data of interest to your sponsors (and your association leadership) than any booth, with increased message retention.
Jeffrey W. Rasco, CMP is senior vice president of meeting, event, and trade show strategists and managers JRDaggett & Associates and heads their Austin, Texas office. A 20-year veteran meeting professional and self-proclaimed geek wannabe, he is a frequent writer and speaker on meetings and events technology. Jeff can be reached at jeff@jrdaggett.com or call 512.842.1613.
Published with permission of : Corbin Ball, CMP, CSP is a professional speaker and consultant focusing on meetings technology. With 20 years of experience running international citywide technology meetings, he now helps clients worldwide use technology to save time and improve productivity He can be contacted at his extensive web site: www.corbinball.com .
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