One of the nice things about attending any in person conference is connecting and reconnecting with people and friends.

Sometimes I go to conferences and it is a hive of social activity where I know virtually everyone. Then there are conferences where I am pretty much an isolated individual and everyone is a stranger.

I use to attend the ALT Conference regularly every year, and it always felt like wearing a comfortable sweater.

Making those kinds of connections online though is much more challenging. I have attended many different kinds of online conferences over the last twenty odd years and it can be difficult, nigh on impossible to make the sort of connections and conversations that can be had at a physical in person conference. Not to say people don’t try, with virtual coffee sessions between the formal sessions. I would say though having been staring at the computer screen during a formal session, when its time for a break, often the last thing I want to do is stay on my computer, I want an actual coffee, time to stand up and walk around. You know, the kind of thing you do in an actual coffee break at a conference.

Having said all that some of the best online interactions I have had at online conference was before streaming became the norm. Twenty years ago, not everyone had access to decent connectivity, or even cameras. Online conferences were very much about textual discussion as in online forums and threaded discussions. You do still see that kind of thing online on LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads and Bluesky. Though many online conference platforms have discussion forums, my experience often shows that they are under-utilised. People check in to watch the stream, may participate in the chat, and then leave. Of course, that also happens at in-person conferences. However, the coffee breaks at those same conferences are busy and noisy, whereas the online versions are often full of tumbleweed.

I do enjoy in-person conferences, but I also get value from online events too. The fact I don’t need to travel, I can combine it with other stuff makes them convenient. What they’re not though are good opportunities for making connections and networking.