January 4, 2012
For Immediate Release

NRWA to host web and computer technology chat panel

DUNCAN, Okla. - Expanding digital technology is rapidly moving the news media away from static, scheduled, one-way mediums of print and television into a dynamic, interactive, on-line medium. In an effort to harness these new technologies for the benefit of the water industry, the National Rural Water Association will host a live chat discussion on website and computer technology at 2 p.m. (central) on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

This first event will be used to test new live-event software, as well as experiment with the live chat medium. The panelist for the event will be Steve O'Connor, Brad Reed and Chris Wilson, all from the NRWA Data Services Department. Viewers will be able to view the discussion live, on-line and will be able to submit questions, comments and discussion topics into the moderated chat room. The event will go live on this page and viewers will be able to request an e-mail reminder for the event start.

(story continues after the chat window)

Web & Computer Technology Panel

(01/11/2012)

  

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1:55	nrwacw:  The event is up. Our panelist should be logging in shortly. Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:55 nrwacw

1:56	Steve OConnor:  Hi Chris... good afternoon!! Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:56 Steve OConnor

1:57	Steve OConnor:  We seem to be having a name display technical issue. Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:57 Steve OConnor

1:57	NRWA Brad:  Hello Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:57 NRWA Brad

1:57	Steve OConnor:  ok... that time it said that it was me chatting. Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:57 Steve OConnor

1:58	nrwacw:  I've got magic settings. This first chat is a test after all Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:58 nrwacw

1:58	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Cool, looks like you fixed the name issue! Wednesday January 11, 2012 1:58 help4smallwater

2:00	Chris Wilson:  This new software also allows us to add polls and other material in the chat, so I'll be putting some of that up in a minute. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:00 Chris Wilson

2:01	Steve OConnor:  Chris... are you going to be adding QR codes to our advertising? If so you might start us out by explaining briefly how we and our folks might benefit from using them. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:01 Steve OConnor

2:01	Is your website mobile firlendly? Yes  ( 75% ) No  ( 25% ) Yes, and we have an app  ( 0% ) Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:01

2:02	Chris Wilson:  Yeah I misspelllled the poll Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:02 Chris Wilson

2:04	Chris Wilson:  @Steve: Yes. We're going to be adding QR codes to a lot of our print material. I basically see it as a way to hyperlink a physical object. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:04 Chris Wilson

2:05	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Do you think QR codes have some longevity in them or are just a fad? Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:05 help4smallwater

2:05	NRWA Brad:  QR codes do seem to be getting more and more popular Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:05 NRWA Brad

2:05	Steve OConnor:  They are really just a way to open an addressed email or webpage on your mobile device right? Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:05 Steve OConnor

2:07	NRWA Brad:  Just to make sure our readers know what QR codes are - They are the square bar-code looking symbols you see on signs and other printed material that you can scan with your smart phone Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:07 NRWA Brad

2:07	Steve OConnor:  I see mobile devices as having longevity and so I believe that anything that can make a mobile device easier to use has longevity. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:07 Steve OConnor

2:07

Chris Wilson:  Definatly have some staying power. A recent article that predicted betwen 2015 and 2018 every mobiel phone sold in the US will be a Smart Phone. That means the population is going to have more way to get connected. There are just way too many applications. Last time I went to a mall, the directory had a QR code that would take you to an interaactive map and store directory. Gotta hide that from my wife. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:07 Chris Wilson

2:08	Steve OConnor:  readers need to be integrated into the device though... in my opinion. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:08 Steve OConnor

2:08	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  yes, I would agree with that - I think more people know WHAT they are than HOW to use them Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:08 help4smallwater

2:09	Do you use QR codes to get more information? Yes  ( 75% ) No  ( 25% ) What's a QR Code  ( 0% ) Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:09

2:11	Steve OConnor:  Chris and I are working on a way to track our marketing effectiveness with specially designed links that can be made into QR codes. After the campaign we will be able to get some results and trends. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:11 Steve OConnor

2:11

Chris Wilson:  Right, Steve's a big believer that mobile devices are going to replace a large chunk of the casual computing we do on laptops and even desktops. So it really pays to invest in making websites mobile-friendly, integrate QR codes and work on mobile Apps Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:11 Chris Wilson

2:12	Chris Wilson:  We've go lots of ideas for QR codes: using a querry string to capture some marketing info is just one piece. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:12 Chris Wilson

2:12	NRWA Brad:  You've got to stay ahead of the curve and try to anticipate where the trends are going if you want to keep up Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:12 NRWA Brad

2:14	Chris Wilson:  For those of you that noticed, I can use my chat panel to put a little news flash across the bottom. Just another thing I'm testing. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:14 Chris Wilson

2:15	Steve OConnor:  I hope that we can develop an NRWA app sometime in the near future. Maybe include some calculators for field staff, nrwa contact info, directors expense form and maybe eventually our daily and waterlogs. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:15 Steve OConnor

2:16

[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  On the flip side to that, it seems there are still many in the industry just getting online and figuring it all out. Are you catering to that audience at all or focusing mainly in a forward-thinking, next-gen kind of way? Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:16 help4smallwater

2:17	NRWA Brad:  We still do quite a bit of catering to those that are still "figuring it all out" Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:17 NRWA Brad

2:19

Chris Wilson:  It's a lot of both. A lot of people just embracing technology are comming to it through mobile computing and socail networks. To quote "I never know what my daughter's doing unless I'm on Facebook." So a lot of this new stuff helps make it more accessable to those not deep into tech. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:19 Chris Wilson

2:21	Chris Wilson:  I think the smart phone and the tablet has breeched that wall too. It's just so convientient. (I'm sure I misspelled everything in that sencentence) Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:21 Chris Wilson

2:21	NRWA Brad:  I think what has changed the most around here in the last few years is that we have moved away from not trying anything new because some wouldn't "get it" Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:21 NRWA Brad

2:22	Steve OConnor:  I am trying to get set up to do a simple android application on the laptop in the back room here. I just take a few minutes every now and then in the attempt. I can't seem to get eclipse (an android development kit) set up correctly yet. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:22 Steve OConnor

2:23	Chris Wilson:  Right. We're pushing really far out in some areas. nrwa.org has gone from a static html page to dynamic aspx that sizes to fit standard or mobile browsers. It's a pretty big just in 3 or so years. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:23 Chris Wilson

2:23	NRWA Brad:  It is amazing how much tablets have paved the way for an expanded audience to get online and really use technology. My 7 yr. old neice got a tablet for Christmas and loves it. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:23 NRWA Brad

2:23	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Definitely seeing Facebook as the primary gateway - our project manager is from a small town of 400 in central IL, many of whom still live in or near the area - they are all on Facebook. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:23 help4smallwater

2:23	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Am certainly surprised by how many in the boomer generation are using iPads. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:23 help4smallwater

2:25	Steve OConnor:  I can't get my mother off her iPad. She loves it as well. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:25 Steve OConnor

2:25	Chris Wilson:  Tablets have certain built-in limitations based on their OS and harware. Those limitations happen to mean they're also really easy to learn and use. They're so easy and convieniant. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:25 Chris Wilson

2:26	Do you have a smart mobile or tablet device? Smart phonr  ( 33% ) Tablet  ( 33% ) Both  ( 33% ) Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:26

2:27

[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Chris, that is the reason why I don't have one personally, too limiting on the creative/production side of things & don't have enough time for consumption - but definitely why they are being so widely accepted. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:27 help4smallwater

2:29

Chris Wilson:  Right. I'll use my wife as an example (because I sprung for a new Nook Tablet for Christmas): Almost all her casual computing is done on the tablet - facebook, websites, games. When she has to do something for work, school, Sunday school, she goes to our laptop or desktop. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:29 Chris Wilson

2:30

NRWA Brad:  I think we will see more powerful tablets coming out. I saw on a report from CES that there is a "gaming" tablet that is supposed to have enough processing and video power to run modern PC games coming out this year. It has joystick looking things sticking out both sides Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:30 NRWA Brad

2:31	Chris Wilson:  The portability is a real advantage. The apps that we're looking to develop really focus on putting useful tools and calculators out into the field. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:31 Chris Wilson

2:33	Chris Wilson:  With a smart phone you also get the advantage of GPS location too. I can definatly see companies starting to integrate telemetr,y control and location for water systems into mobile applications. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:33 Chris Wilson

2:33	Steve OConnor:  I absolutely love these smart phones. I alway wanted to take a laptop in case I got stuck somewhere without but now I have my smartphone. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:33 Steve OConnor

2:33	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Rugged protective gear for smartphones and tablets seems to be readily available (OtterBox for ex.) - just need to remind people to use it. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:33 help4smallwater

2:34	NRWA Brad:  Yeah - LOL. The back of my iPhone wishes I had started using a protective case sooner than I did. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:34 NRWA Brad

2:35	Steve OConnor:  WE talked about GPSing water sources a while back but OConnell pointed out that some water sources cover many square miles. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:35 Steve OConnor

2:37	Chris Wilson:  I know. The iPhone I have for testing wishes it had a cover too Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:37 Chris Wilson

2:37	Steve OConnor:  was it Beccas? Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:37 Steve OConnor

2:39	Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:39

2:40	Chris Wilson:  Hey, I can upload phones.! Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:40 Chris Wilson

2:40	Chris Wilson:  I cannot spell Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:40 Chris Wilson

2:40	NRWA Brad:  well - pictures of phones Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:40 NRWA Brad

2:41	Chris Wilson:  Annnnd, I have been the editor of more than one newspaper. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:41 Chris Wilson

2:42	Chris Wilson:  I think Steve wants to talk about data mining. He's really excited that we're starting to collect more information on our marketing plans and programs, and actially putting it to use. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:42 Chris Wilson

2:43	NRWA Brad:  the hardest part of data mining is making sure you have good data to begin with Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:43 NRWA Brad

2:45	Chris Wilson:  Well, we've been collecting information for years, but a lot of times it just... remains collected. Starting to put that info together in a useful way. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:45 Chris Wilson

2:45	NRWA Brad:  Takes a lot of planning and thought ahead of time Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:45 NRWA Brad

2:46	NRWA Brad:  Yes - that is pretty big hurdle too. Figuring how the data can be used effectively. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:46 NRWA Brad

2:46	Steve OConnor:  ours statistical information should be accurate as it's entry will be somewhat automated. I cannot speak to the data entry portion of the collection. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:46 Steve OConnor

2:47	Chris Wilson:  Right. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:47 Chris Wilson

2:47	Chris Wilson:  Well. I think we're going to wind this down soon. I'm going to open it up to our viewers to see if there are any final questions. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:47 Chris Wilson

2:49	Chris Wilson:  Or any feedback. Is this an interesting medium to get informatin/discussion on a particular topic? Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:49 Chris Wilson

2:49	Steve OConnor:  I thought lunch was provided. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:49 Steve OConnor

2:50	NRWA Brad:  Lunch? I thought it was an afternoon snack that was provided Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:50 NRWA Brad

2:50	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Yes, I have been on chats like this before. Goes a little slow though.. do you have to approve all visitor comments? Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:50 help4smallwater

2:51	Steve OConnor:  Thanks for inviting me Chris. If I can answer any questions later please feel free to call 580-252-5758. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:51 Steve OConnor

2:51	Chris Wilson:  Yup. It's completely moderated. Which would be ok if I wasn't answwering questions AND trying to moderate comments. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:51 Chris Wilson

2:51	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Are you seeing any traction from your Facebook page? We are seeing slow growth and not a lot of interactivity. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:51 help4smallwater

2:53	Steve OConnor:  it seems like twitter would be a good tool for something like Rally. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:53 Steve OConnor

2:53	NRWA Brad:  Facebook seems to be one of those things you are "expected" to have but you don't see alot of measurable benefit from it. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:53 NRWA Brad

2:54	Steve OConnor:  If you get all the folks to follow a particular - say Robs - account it would make for easy mobile communications to the entire group. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:54 Steve OConnor

2:54

Chris Wilson:  The short answer is Facebook is always No. All the research from the very beginning has pointed to it being kind of a dud in terms of getting consistent engagment and translating that to views on other material. On the other hand, it engages segments of the population that you may not get through other mediums. That's why we have such a broad range of social site - no one REALLY gets you the engagement you want. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:54 Chris Wilson

2:54	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  When I've hosted webinars, I've had to have a wingman running the comments. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:54 help4smallwater

2:56	Chris Wilson:  In the future I'm sure I'll be moderating for people and not participating. But this first run was just about running the format and getting on under our belt. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:56 Chris Wilson

2:56	[Comment From Chris Wilson Nrwa Chris Wilson Nrwa : ]  I thought it was awesome! You guys are brilliant. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:56 Chris Wilson Nrwa

2:57

[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Facebook's only (constant) changes don't help. Before it was suggested you post once a day, but with new algorithm for news feed, you want to post multiple times a day in order to get in front of some eyeballs. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:57 help4smallwater

2:58	Chris Wilson:  Just getting in the news feed isn't really enough. It's pretty common for people to skim their feed, even if they don't ahve lists, and on ly read stuff from their close friends. Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:58 Chris Wilson

2:58	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  LOL Wednesday January 11, 2012 2:58 help4smallwater

3:00	[Comment From help4smallwater help4smallwater : ]  Thanks for the chat. Will make sure future events go on our calendar. Wednesday January 11, 2012 3:00 help4smallwater

3:00	Chris Wilson:  Excellent. I'm going to close down the chat. Thank you to everyone who participated. Wednesday January 11, 2012 3:00 Chris Wilson

3:01

[Comment From Florence Aird Braunius Florence Aird Braunius : ]  I think this is a great way to stay connected with all the members. I just know I have to learn a whole new language. Data mining? Lots of new terms with the new technology. Thanks for getting this off the ground. Wednesday January 11, 2012 3:01 Florence Aird Braunius

3:02

 

 

The motivation for the chat events came from on-line sports coverage, the same place that inspired the NRWA Podcasts, increased use of Video, and the NRWA Blogs.

"In the past, news coverage was heavily influenced by the mediums available; newspapers, radio and TV all cover things very differently because each media comes with its own schedule, its own priorities and its own advantages," explained Chris Wilson, NRWA web developer and former newspaper editor. "The advantage of the internet is that an outlet can now be every medium at once. Coverage can expand beyond text and still photos to include video and audio, plus interactive elements like blogs, commentary, discussion forums and chats."

According to Wilson, sports coverage has been leading in innovating internet news for three reasons: sports coverage produces large amounts of audio, video and photo media; there is a large demand for analysis and opinion on sports topics; and heavy connection to the web has made innovation very easy.

"When you look a niche sports, you find a lot of websites that cover things like shooting sports, mixed martial arts or wrestling - sports that don't always get lots of coverage through traditional outlets," he said. "These websites have been leading a lot of internet news innovation, because they've never been tied to the overhead of traditional media. Instead of worrying about paying for a press or a transmitter, they're free to work on podcasts, chats and webcams."

The test chat will hopefully open a new avenue for the NRWA to provide meaningful information and discussion for the benefit of the water industry. The association also has plans to incorporate chat into more than just news events.

"If the first test goes well, this software can be incorporated into a lot of other activities," Wilson said. "We can use it to promote events and provide certain kinds of assistance."

"The first event will give us an idea of how useful a toll we have," he added. "It would be a big benefit for us if a large number of people participated."

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