Audience Response Systems

Audience response is a type of presentation used to create interactivity between a presenter and his audience. Systems combine wireless hardware with presentation software.

The presenter uses a computer and a projector to project a presentation for the audience to see. Presentation slides built with the audience response software display questions with several possible correct answers. The audience participates by selecting the answer they believe to be correct and pushing the corresponding key on their individual *wireless keypad. Their answer is then sent to a base station - or receiver - that is also attached to the presenter's computer. The audience response software collects the results and the aggregate data is graphically displayed within the presentation for all to see.

Depending on the presenter's requirements, the data can either be collected anonymously (e.g. in the case of voting) or it can be traced to individual participants in circumstances where tracking is required (e.g. classroom quizzes). Incoming data is also stored in a database that resides on the host computer, and data reports can be created after the presentation for further analysis.

The Benefits of Audience Response

There are many reasons for the increasing use of audience response systems (ARS). Unlike hand raising, it is difficult to see which selection others are making. The ARS also allows for faster tabulation of answers for large groups than manual methods. Additionally, many college professors use ARS systems to take attendance or even grade answers in large lecture halls, which would be highly time-consuming without the system.

Audience response offers many benefits to those who use it in group settings. These are just a few of the potential benefits:

Applications

Audience response is utilized across a broad range of industries and organizations. A few examples include:

• Education
• Corporate Training
• Control Self-Assessment
• Delegate Voting
• Market Reasearch
• Decision Support
• Game Shows e.g. Ask the audience on Who Wants to be Millionaire
• Conferences and Events
• Executive Decision Making
• Continuing Medical Research