topic Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements in User Conference Questions

Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

SteveGoldman — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:02:18 GMT

The toughest thing for me at the Esri User Conference is making sure I'm using my time as best as possible, and hitting as many sessions as I can. Having easy access to the Agenda is key to this. I always go over it ahead of time, and mark a bunch of "possibles", but there are always multiple sessions in many timeslots that I'd like to attend, and it often comes down to other factors, like who I end up bumping into, and the conversations that ensue. I like to have some potentials marked, but I also like to have live access to the information so last minute choices can be made.

The current online Agenda is certainly better than no online Agenda, which was true only a few years back, but I think it has the potential to be much more useful without too much work. I'm not sure if this online version was new this year or not, but I don't recall it being available 2 years back when I last attended.

I'd like to have folks comment on if they liked it or not, and what ideas they have to make it work better for them. Hopefully, with some thought out discussion, Esri folks will then re-work it a bit.

My criticism is that this version is not very easy to use on either my desktop for pre-planning or on my iPhone for live access.

For one, they included a map widget in the agenda. We're all map geeks, so it's cool to have a map of the convention center room locations, but it shouldn't be an always-there part of the Agenda web page. For the most part, as you are going through the sessions and decided which to go to, location of a particular session is irrelevant as there is ample time between sessions to get from end-to-end. Maximize screen real-estate for the Sessions grid, and make the map an optional window to pop up.

Additionally, it has a scrollable area inside the main page. On the iPhone, this creates dual vertical scrolling, which is difficult to navigate. I think a single page list would work much better. There could be collapsable areas for the days, and then also for the time-slots. Then additionally, the full info for the session could be a collapsable area. This way, all content is on a single web page. No dual content areas, no popups, etc.

The Pocket Agenda is useful, and I'm glad they stopped printing the large Full Agenda to save trees, but the Pocket Agenda doesn't have the details on each session, which is critical for the paper sessions especially, since the session title offers little in the way of really understanding what the 3 presentations will cover.

An easy Search function is critical, and the existing site did fairly well here, but could be better.

What other ideas are out there?

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

RichardDaniels — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:22:57 GMT

Well the ESRI preconference planning tool was pretty hard to navigate, even on a dual monitor PC, so trying to use it while actually at the conference was out. To be honest, the thing that needs the most work is access to the session descriptions or paper abstracts. Instead of focusing on bling and fancy code they need something that is fast and easy to use, like this example for the AAG -> http://meridian.aag.org/callforpapers/program/index.cfm?mtgID=59

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

AnthonyGiles — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:26:50 GMT

I Personally always find the paper version a lot easier to use than any of the different apps I have tried. You can just strike through sessions you don't want to go to, see what's left then make a choice. It's too much effort on the app to add things to your calendar then see what clashes

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

SteveGoldman — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:29:32 GMT

Yes, but since they no longer provide the full agenda in print form, you need to look online to see full session descriptions and paper abstracts, which I think are critical.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

AnthonyGiles — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:36:41 GMT

There was a paper pocket book in the registration pack which was the same as the online PDF:

http://www.esri.com/~/media/Files/Pdfs/events/user-conference/pdfs/uc-pocket-book‌

but I know what you mean it didn't have too much detail

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

SteveGoldman — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:41:00 GMT

Yes, the Pocket Agenda is great, and very useful, but doesn't have the detailed descriptions that really help decide if it's a session of interest. They could add additional descriptions into the Pocket Agenda, but with hundreds (thousands?) of sessions, that booklet would likely triple in thickness.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

JackMillar — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:47:36 GMT

I was wondering if during the registration process they could have used the information from attendees' desired sessions to better schedule sessions? I felt like I missed a bit since I use these conferences not just to get caught up with trends in my field but also in other fields. A broad approach can help bring new ideas.

My only other thought was that the special activities (speed geeking, gis manager summit, etc) overlapped too much with the sessions. I would have really liked it if the mornings focused on sessions, and then the afternoons were open to visiting the exhibit hall/activities/technical training.

Of course the evening in Balboa Park was pretty well done

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

SteveCole — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:07:28 GMT

This year's agenda failed spectacularly. The printed pocket agenda was completely missing any workshop/presentation that was located downstairs in ESRI-land (this was not the case last year and in previous years). The ESRI Events app was inconsistent between OS versions (iOS *would* add a workshop to your calender but the Android version would not add them on my tablet). The plain web agenda planner was also lacking the ability to add sessions to your calender. In previous years, you could add them to your Outlook calender, ICal, etc. Not this year.

If it's not broke, fix it- just like the forums.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

RuiSantos_EsriPT — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:28:10 GMT

I wonder how you make it before all wireless smart devices

I will try to get this point of view before I organize the next event.

I believe Esri will improve a lot on the next year.

Regards.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

AlixBakke_SNC — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:33:35 GMT

I attended both the ESRI UC and the SCGIS conference this year, and I would agree I found the UC agenda a bit tricky. The SCGIS conference used "guidebook", which worked very well.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

SteveCole — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:36:47 GMT

Well, the old agenda planners allowed you to search by track. industry, etc so it was easier than using this year's attempt. What I used to do was search for keywords, copy abstracts + room info into a Word file, organize by date/time blocks and print it out for the conference. I am well versed in the "old school" method of conference planning.

The creation of an app a few years ago was a huge step forward. Why it has to get continually changed, however, is beyond me.

Oh- one more thing missing from this year's pocket agenda- daily times for the map gallery, exhibit hall, etc. The plenary session also seemed "sparse" at best.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

SteveGoldman — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:38:57 GMT

Thanks Liz! Yeah, I figured there had to be COTS solutions out there that did this well.

Mobile Apps Made Easy | Guidebook‌

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

AlixBakke_SNC — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:47:58 GMT

It's very easy to use provides and provides general info, schedule, list of presenters, maps, to-do, schedule, inbox and attendees...

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

RichardDaniels — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 23:35:10 GMT

The pocket agenda is handy and should be kept; however, this year the way the advertising pages were inserted divided up the agenda. Instead of being at the end of each day, or between session time slots, they were inserted between sessions in the same slot (so you could miss sessions located after the advertisement, e.g. page 42).The information for the plenary session was to generic as well, it said "8:30 AM to 3:30 PM" which missed the 1 1/2 hour lunch break. In the past the break would have been listed.

What I missed was the "pocket" for the pocket agenda. The solid plastic badge backing they gave out this year was not functional.

On the application front, the best "agenda app" could be based on the pocket agenda; however,the Session titles would be hyperlinks that when clicked would "expand" and show the session description and the paper titles & authors. If the titles were clicked they would expand to a second level to show the abstract. There would be a Search screen on the top of the application as well based on keyword, author, day, and title that would return a result list. When a result is selected it would jump into the agenda at the selected location. the key is that the agenda does not have to be the "same" as the planner, since the planner is used prior to the event while the pocket agenda is designed to be used "on the fly" while you are on the escalator in the Convention Center at 8:30 AM.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

RandyKreuziger — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 00:11:35 GMT

Hated the waste of space in the session planner this year. It was designed for a touch screen with only I think 5 sessions titles on screen at a time. But I don't have a touch screen so all it was a big waste of space. On my iPhone 4 it kept crashing.

I had a problem adding to my session planner and contacted ESRI. I heard back that there were problems with IE but they were fixing them. Unfortunately, they didn't mention that on the site. Some how I sessions I never tagged started showing up. I contacted ESRI again the asked for my useridbut I never heard bad from them. THis was like 2 weeks before the conference.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

TimothyHales — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:49:39 GMT

FYI - Jennifer Ortiz‌ Frank Garofalo‌

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

Anonymous User — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:29:16 GMT

Thanks for starting this thread, Steve, and for doing so in a generous spirit.

Above you say,

Additionally, it has a scrollable area inside the main page. On the iPhone, this creates dual vertical scrolling, which is difficult to navigate. I think a single page list would work much better. There could be collapsable areas for the days, and then also for the time-slots. Then additionally, the full info for the session could be a collapsable area. This way, all content is on a single web page. No dual content areas, no popups, etc.

Could you maybe post a screenshot of the area you are referring to as the "main page"? Especially as it relates to scrolling.

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

Anonymous User — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:35:17 GMT

that's a great thought, Jack. I too think it would be very helpful if when users registered for sessions we promoted items based on their desired sessions. Just a thought, but would you also find it useful if we promoted items based on your professional background as well?

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

Anonymous User — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:35:51 GMT

thanks for sharing!

Re: Online UC Agenda falls short for me - let's brainstorm improvements

Anonymous User — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:37:56 GMT

Hey Steve,

You say,

The creation of an app a few years ago was a huge step forward. Why it has to get continually changed, however, is beyond me.

Which version are you referring to? How long ago? Was it a version of the native app? (i.e. the one downloaded from itunes/google play?)