BYOD – Bring Your Own Device in Conference Technology
Published: 16.07.2017
In conferencing and media technology, Bring Your Own Device is the term for using private mobile devices as both receivers and senders of content. Areas of application are: Trade shows, conferences, factory tours, museum tours, lecture halls, cinemas or theaters. Users download an app onto their private smartphone, with the help of which they are offered various opportunities for participation.
Bei PCS machen wir – Stand Sommer 2017 – die Erfahrung, dass sich BYOD-Systeme am Vermietmarkt (noch?) nicht durchgesetzt haben. Gerade bei großen Konferenzen ist es nach wie vor sinnvoll, die Logistik für Empfangsgeräte und deren Qualitätssicherung einem spezialisierten Anbieter zu überlassen. Den Teilnehmern steht nicht die Zeit zur Verfügung, Apps herunterzuladen und sicher anzuwenden. Bei Unsicherheiten ist der Beratungsaufwand sehr hoch, es entstehen Fragen und Aufregungen, die es im Vorfeld einer Conference zu minimieren gilt. Das Smartphone wird heute vor allem als Empfangsgerät genutzt: Daten zur Konferenz werden über eine Webseite oder App abgerufen, geantwortet wird über Dienste wie Twitter.
The situation is different for media technology installations. In cinemas and lecture halls, demand is high – especially for barrier-free listening via WLAN. Users can get and install the apps in advance, with enough time. Use becomes practiced and increasingly easier through repeated visits.
BYOD – Advantages and disadvantages
BYOD has advantages and disadvantages that should be carefully weighed before deployment.
Advantages:
- No need to keep large numbers of receivers on hand and maintain their batteries
- Listeners can connect spontaneously
- The logistics of issuing and collecting receiving devices are eliminated
- The flexibility of smartphones makes it possible to use many functions that would be impossible or difficult to implement on specialized devices
- Accessible hearing and interpreter channels can be offered more cost-effectively and thus more comprehensively
Disadvantages:
- Downloading and installing the required app may cause problems and may not be possible for users with low technical skills to do on their own
- The battery of the smartphone is loaded, may not have been sufficiently charged by the user beforehand
- The smartphone can only be used elsewhere to a limited extent for the duration of use
- A WLAN network must be provided to the user. If this does not run autonomously from the home network, security problems may arise