Lateral Puzzles Webathon Thread

[Admin]

Hi,

We are planning a first - a live interactive puzzle fest for members of this forum.

The date is Tuesday Dec 6th and the time is 6 pm UK time = 1 pm EST I believe.

What do you think is the best format for this?

Skype
Google Hangouts
Facebook Live
Go to Meeting
Any other suggestion

We want something that can handle potentially 10 to 20 simultaneous webcam feeds and is fast and free.

One person will pose a good puzzle and the group will put questions to rapidly solve it - maybe.

Will you join in and what method do you recommend?

I have posted this in the chatroom too.

Paul Sloane

[rcb]

Hi Paul,

From my experience, software put aside, 10-20 simultaneous feeds sounds huge, at least for the free part. Sounds quite professional to me.

Maybe sticking to the voice part? And having maybe only the host with a video stream?

Just my 2c.

Razvan

[Balin]

I'm not very knowledgeable about that type of software, but I've briefly used Skype and Gotomeeting. I know Skype is very popular and also has a voice-only option in case too many video feeds becomes a problem.

I'll participate as long as I'm not working that afternoon – I should be able to.

-Matt

[WiZ]

7 am on a workday for me, so you'll have to tell me how it went.

What's the questioning etiquette going to be? Are you going to hand the floor over systematically (people 'buzzing in', or what have you), or just try not to talk over top of each other too much?

[GalFisk]

This coincides with my train ride home from work through no-internet-land, otherwise it sounds like fun.
I've had a few Skype voice-only meetings with 4-6 participants, and it seems to me that there're quite often some technical glitches. I don't have experience with the other systems mentioned. A consideration may also be how many participants have the different user accounts required.

[irishelk]

This sounds like a great idea, can't wait!

On the technical side, I have no expertise, but I do have Google and Facebook accounts. I'd be happy to download Skype, but I've had nothing but bad luck conferencing with it in the past. It would be nice to have something with a user-friendly text option, in case someone's having trouble with their camera but still wants to participate...

[Twilightseeker]

This would be 8am for me, buuuut, I do not have anything to attend until 10:30, so I could probably make it for a bit!

As for the technical side, I have little experience with anything besides Skype. I would be glad to learn though and download whatever is chosen as best.

[Admin]

Good input thanks.

Put the date in your diary and we will advise the method.

[Zanreo]

Sounds fun

Though it will probably be hard finding somewhere hosting 10+ live webcam feeds running smoothly for free, and personally I would feel more comfortable using just text or voicechat anyway. But a lot of places lets you hide your webcam if you want, at least Google hangouts and I think Skype?

I have Skype and Google, I COULD use facebook but I prefer only adding people I know enough...

[Admin]

OK - let's try skype.

My handle is Laretal

Please connect with me or tell me your Skype name for the Webinar next Tuesday at 6 pm UK time.

[Zanreo]

Skype name: chaletica (with current screen name as Z&hammer)

[Balin]

Admin – sent my Skype name in a PM

[jumpingjacks]

I will sadly be unable to make this, but it sounds like fun. Look forward to hearing all about it!

[rcb]

I concur with jumpingjacks - I won't be able to attend, but let us know how it went.

[Balin]

My laptop crashed this morning so I may no longer be able to attend

[irishelk]

Oh no Balin, hope it recovers!

I believe my Skype username is just my email address: eskaypen@live.com. Looking forward to it!

[Admin]

Hi,

The Lateral Puzzles Webinar on Skype is at 6 pm this evening UK time. Please connect with me on skype and join the fun. My skype name is laretal.

Paul

[Admin]

Live now

[irishelk]

Trial run success! I was very happy to get the opportunity to "meet" you all, hopefully we can do it again soon. I'm not opposed to being up late/early if it helps the timing of people in other zones.

[Admin]

There were four of us on the Skype video conference and we had some fun solving (or not solving) some puzzles.

We will try again in 2017.

Paul

[Balin]

Wasn't able to make it due to my laptop crashing yesterday. Hopefully won't have bad luck for the next one.
Glad you all enjoyed it.

[peter365]

That was fun folks . IrishElk stumped up with a really nice puzzle about .......actually I won't spoil in case she wants to run it here.

NIce to see the faces behind the names. Please do join us for the next one , it's really cool.

[rcb]

I envy all the participants and hopefully I will be able to join the next time.

Good idea, Paul. Thanks.

[peter365]

Please do RCB it was really great. Admin , Zanreo, IrishElk & myself were the attendees.

[Grip]

I would have participated, but I don't have a camera, know nothing about Skype, and am very camera shy to begin with.

[WiZ]

I'm glad that this endeavour met with some success. If you were to host a future one on a weekend, I may be able to take part.

[irishelk]

Anyone up for a weekend Webathon soon? Tomorrow's no good--a real-life meet-up with some other interwebs friends--but after that I'm golden. After 6 pm EST on weekdays would also be good for me, but I know that's significantly later for our Euro folks.

[kalira]

FWIW Grip, you don't have to have a camera to use Skype, and even if you have one, you don't have to turn it on. I've quite often been on Skype but not on cam -- I, too, am kinda camera shy with most people. As long as you have speakers and a mic of some kind (headsets are very useful), you can do basically everything.

[Grip]

Okay, thanks!