For notes about when the conference dashboard becomes available and who has access, please see Dashboard 101: An Introduction to the Conference Dashboard.

What is it?

The text chat function in the dashboard gives conference participants a text-based back-channel way of communicating, without verbally disrupting a conference.

How is it Used?

The most common use for dashboard chat is on larger conferences, involving multiple hosts/moderators. They can use it as a way to coordinate their activities without disrupting the ongoing discussion.

Similarly, on longer multilingual conferences the chat is always used by interpreters to coordinate hand-offs and trade tips on matters of language.

Who Can Use It?

Access to the dashboard requires that people be logged into the ZipDX web portal.

• The conference Host(s) always have access to the dashboard and the text chat.
• Those assigned the role of Interpreter or Auditor also have access to the dashboard and the text chat.
• Conference Participants may be allowed dashboard access, in which case they also have access to the text chat.

Where Is It?

The Text Chat tool is found in the lower-right corner of the conference Dashboard.

 Text Chat Channels

The text chat is a multi-channel mechanism, presented as a series of tabs. The chat window defaults to displaying two chat tabs; Main and Hosts, as pictured below.

Public Group Chat

The Main Chat tab is for public group messaging. All participants with access to the dashboard can see and use the Main Chat channel.

Private Hosts Chat

Hosts can use the Hosts channel for private group messaging. This channel is only visible to Hosts, but participants are allowed to send messages to the Hosts channel.

Also, messages from participants using the WebShare “Send Message” function appear in the Hosts chat.

Private Person-to-Person Chat

The system supports private, person-to-person chat. A pulldown menu just above the message entry box includes all of the participants on the call. Selecting someone from that list creates a new tab for private chat between you and that person.

clicking on a participants name in the participant list or the activity display reveals a pop-up menu that includes an item to launch a one-to-one chat. This approach may be easiest on a very large conference.

The initial message to a participant creates a new tab on their dashboard. Private chat tabs are labeled with the initials of the other person.

In all cases, a new message is indicated by the tab being highlighted in orange. The highlight disappears once the message has been viewed.

Moving Between Chat Channels

Clicking on a chat tab select that chat channel. It also changes the Message To setting to the appropriate selection to respond in that channel.

Closing Private Chat Tabs

Participants using one-to-one chat can close a tab if the exchange has concluded, minimizing dashboard clutter. If chat with that participant later resumes the tab will be returned, with the chat history restored.

Attention Interpreters!

Interpreters working in tandem on longer conferences should use the private, one-to-one chat to coordinate with their partner. It takes only a moment to initiate this one-on-one chat as they are preparing for the conference to begin.