In-Conference Question Capture and Contextual Summarization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video conferencing applications do not adequately support users in presenting questions during a presentation, often leading to context loss and disruption, as they either require end-of-presentation Q&A sessions or real-time interruptions, which can result in delayed and inefficient responses.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows participants to click on the screen during a presentation to associate a question with a specific portion, using natural language processing to combine similar questions and provide a summarized report to the presenter, maintaining context and reducing disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are allowed to interrupt the presenter during the presentation to ask questions, then users can get immediate assistance and clarification, but the presentation flow is disrupted and the presenter is distracted
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary question submission mechanism that allows users to ask questions without directly interrupting the presenter. Questions are captured through a dialog box overlaying the presentation, then processed and presented to the presenter in a controlled manner, mediating between user needs and presentation flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing questions as they are submitted during the presentation, rather than requiring immediate verbal interruption. Questions are queued and prepared for review, allowing the presentation to continue while questions are being collected and organized.
2Productivity
If users wait until the end of the presentation to ask questions, then the presentation flow is maintained, but users may forget their questions and the presenter loses context
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary capture of questions at the moment they arise during the presentation, rather than waiting until the end. By immediately recording questions with their temporal and contextual metadata, the system preserves information before it can be forgotten or lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback to the presenter about submitted questions through a visible queue or notification system. This allows the presenter to maintain awareness of questions without being interrupted, and to review them at appropriate moments while the context is still fresh.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple similar questions are submitted during the presentation, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the presenter faces redundancy and increased complexity in managing questions
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically merges similar or duplicate questions that are submitted during the presentation. By detecting questions with similar content, intent, or subject matter, the system combines them into single representative questions, reducing redundancy while maintaining comprehensive coverage of user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing, categorizing, and deduplicating questions without requiring manual intervention from the presenter. The question management system autonomously processes the queue, identifying patterns and consolidating similar questions before presenting them to the speaker.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system adapted to allow participants, during a collaboration event or session, to ask questions while also serving up or providing relevant context to the presenter. This can be done by the participant clicking anywhere on the screen of their display on their client device during an online presentation and then presenting their question (e.g., typing or otherwise entering their input) about that particular portion of the presentation. When a user clicks on their screen during the presentation, a new dialog will open with a screenshot of the point of the presentation that occurred as well as a dialog box to type in a question. When the participant submits their question, a question report can be created and sent to the server. This report may include a user identifier (ID), a timestamp of when the screenshot was taken, the coordinates of the click/selection location, and the question itself.