Rotating Queue for Equitable Group Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Group communications, such as video conferences, often face issues where outspoken participants dominate discussions, preventing others from contributing equally, and existing control methods can be inequitable, limiting participation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that manages group communications by placing participants in a rotating queue based on the order of their entry, allowing each participant a predetermined time to speak while others are muted, ensuring all have an equal opportunity to contribute.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If speakers are muted and floor control is used to grant exclusive speaking opportunity, then discussion order is maintained, but participation equity is reduced and ability of everyone to have a voice is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes a rotation schedule before the discussion begins, determining the sequence and duration of each participant's speaking turn in advance. This preliminary arrangement ensures both orderly discussion and equitable participation opportunities without requiring real-time control interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic rotation of speaking rights among participants at predetermined time intervals. Each participant receives equal time slots in a repeating cycle, ensuring continuous equitable access to the discussion while maintaining structured transitions between speakers.
2Productivity
If outspoken participants are allowed to speak freely, then discussion flow is natural, but monopolization of time occurs and others are prevented from contributing
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically allocates speaking time based on a rotation schedule that adapts to the number of participants and discussion duration. The allocation adjusts automatically to ensure each participant receives appropriate time while maintaining overall discussion momentum and preventing monopolization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors speaking time consumption and provides feedback through visual or auditory cues to participants as their allocated time approaches expiration. This feedback mechanism allows participants to naturally conclude their thoughts while ensuring equitable time distribution without disruptive interruptions.
Data Source
AI summary
Once a group communication such as a video conference has been initiated, embodiments of the present disclosure provide for equitably managing the conference so that each participant can be given a chance to speak or contribute. For example, and according to one embodiment, the participants can be placed into a rotating queue based upon the order in which they joined the conference. As the conference progresses, each participant can be allowed to speak, while the other participants are muted, for up to a predetermined amount of time. Once that time expires, or the speaker yields the remaining time, the next participant in the rotating queue can be allowed to speak for up to the same predetermined amount of time. This rotation can continue for up to a predetermined number of rotations, a predetermined amount of time for the conference, or until the participants otherwise end the conference.