How can you use audience response systems (ARS) to increase interactivity and feedback at conferences?

Using Audience Response Systems (ARS) offers numerous benefits for both organizers and attendees. ARS can facilitate ice-breaking activities, generate interest in topics and speakers, gauge attendees' comprehension levels, and foster discussions and debates. Moreover, ARS enables you to modify content and delivery based on feedback, incentivize participants for their engagement, and gather valuable data and opinions to enhance your conference and shape future events.

You must first understand the difference between physical ARS and smartphone based ARS. Physical ARS systems are devices handed out to each and every person in the room. They do not require internet, as they run on Radio Frequency (RF) just like a walkie talkie. Every device is the same, tested and guaranteed to be working, and are utilized with the simple press of a button. APPs, QR codes and texting all use attendee's personal devices, which you cannot control, nor can you control if people have the willingness or ability to go through multiple, annoying steps to participate. Thus, usage rates are notoriously low and the resulting data is garbage. Dedicated ARS provides users an instant, easy way to give you feedback and be included.

When choosing the appropriate Audience Response System (ARS) for your conference, several factors should be considered. These include the size and location of your audience, the desired feedback type and format, as well as your budget and time limitations. For instance, if you have a large and geographically dispersed audience, a web-based ARS that can be accessed from any device would be advantageous. It is also important to ensure that the ARS supports the specific feedback you wish to collect and can seamlessly integrate with your presentation software. If you have budget and time constraints, opting for a low-cost and user-friendly ARS that doesn't require extensive training or technical support would be more suitable.

Go into this choice understanding that all APP, QR, and text based solutions have unacceptably low usage rates, and so if you are looking to provide live polling as basically a gimmick and not looking to harvest plentiful, valid data to use after the event, then that's your best choice because it doesn't make a difference to you how many people actually participate. If you truly do value getting data and including as many people as possible, you will provide attendees with ARS "clickers", also known as Audience Participation Devices. These closed, reliable and easy to use devices demonstrate your commitment to the voices of the attendees by making it fun and easy to join in, at the press of a button. And you get instant, valid data

First, you need to find a provider who is an expert at question creation, not handing out "clickers". Find a provider who works with you to make you aware of the many types of questions available, from perspective based to monitoring questions to "One Best Answer" where there is one answer that is the "most" correct while others could be justified with the correct reasoning. Taking the time to get trained on the many questions available to you, and which can build on one another, is a worthwhile investment. AI can obviously help, but too often AI provides a minimal degree of depth on its suggestions. You need an expert in the field of ARS who can work with your team to design the event around the questions you'd like to ask.

Build your event around questions. Because questions using physical ARS "clickers" take ten seconds or less, and the value of engaging every single person in the room is so high (yielding inclusion and data), ask attendees *some* question every 15 minutes or so. This renews their attention from smartphones and gets them listening to your message, speakers & sponsors. Asking interesting & meaningful questions should be the guiding principle of live events, because they shouldn't be so focused on the "important" speakers but the audience members themselves. Train speakers and panelists to ask as many questions as possible and comment on/react in real time to the results, creating two-way dialogue, data and a more interesting event.

Forget APPs, QR codes and texting. The allure of having it be so easy masks what event professionals know- they aren't used by more than a handful of the people in the room. Instead, provide them with physical "clickers" either at their seat or at the registration table, scanning them in so you get the devices back. When people are handed an easy, fun, straightforward way (simply pressing a button) the use rate skyrockets. With the smallest of incentives like prizes or discounts, you'll witness people putting down their phones, picking up your clickers, and engaging. But you don't necessarily need prizes. Just the fact that you've distributed a clicker to everyone in the room demonstrates to them your commitment to their voice.