add hybrid definitions to mode of the conference
This is a verbatim copy of a fragment in: Bajpai, V., Hohlfeld, O., Crowcroft, J., Keshav, S., 2021. Towards Climate-Friendly Internet Research 22. For more information: https://www.dagstuhl.de/de/programm/kalender/semhp/?semnr=21272
- Passive (inactive) Hybrid – This model allows only passive remote participation by making videos of talks, demos, panels available to both local and remote attendees. The material can be recorded ahead in time. In this model, decent Internet connectivity is necessary to remotely access the material and therefore could be an issue in regions that censor the Internet in different ways.
- Semi-passive (semi-active) Hybrid – This model supports a limited degree of remote participation including questions, thereby running in a "webinar" mode of operation. The prerequisites are requirements for (1) plus decent audio equipment for interactive presentations. In this model, capturing local audio could become an issue. The model also risks trolling behaviour from anonymous remote participants during the Q&A. As such, lightweight training is needed for session chairs to handle such cases. Yet another issue is how to implement turn-taking with such a mix of (online/presence) participants. A possibility of professional stenography for speakers can help with written material.
- True (fully active) Hybrid – In this model, both presenters and audience can be either local and remote. The IETF has had experience with such a model, whereby virtual queuing was implemented using QR codes, but it was found that such schemes also break flow. Eavesdropping in online mode is an issue. For small side meetings, traditional Skype also works. It is unclear how to implement two levels of social interactions - one for each mode of participation and whether it would work at all. Yet another concern is how mentoring (and matchmaking of senior academics to students) would work.
- Distributed Hybrid – In this model regional in-person clusters or hubs are created with a shared program and viewing parties. In such a mode, travelling to local hubs has a carbon cost but it is to be explored whether the experience is closer to attending a traditional in-person conference. The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) has been running local hubs for a while, but the experience has not been too positive. On the other hand, running multi-site conferences have the risk of ending up with a multi-conference experience. As such, local hubs still have the advantage of socialising with people at a smaller scale at a much more personal level due to localised nature of languages as well.
Edited by Andrea Sánchez-Tapia