Q&A with David Papp (P.Eng.) of Mtek Digital
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I am a tech pioneer specializing in CyberSecurity & Privacy, Social Media, Technology Management, and Blockchain. I have my degree in computer engineering and have accumulated a number of industry certifications over my 25 years in the industry. I help businesses and individuals embrace technology to thrive in the on-line world. I am also an author and member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, where I have been the Edmonton Chapter President since 2017. I own a consulting business (Mtek Digital).
Digital meetings are becoming more popular, and the technology for them is growing exponentially. Tell us about a few of the platforms that are available.
There are a lot, but here are few worth mentioning:
Adobe Connect Pro — Up to 200 people can participate, it has many features and can be complex to learn.
GoToMeeting — Up to 15 or 25 people can participate (based on licensing model), it’s very intuitive and requires software install.
Skype for Business — Up to 250 people can participate, and it’s very well known.
WebEx Meeting Center — Up to 2,000 people can participate, it has many tools and products, and flexible screen layouts for all platforms.
Zoom Video Communications — Up to 1,000 people can participate, it has a free offering and is very intuitive.
You have said before that your favourite platform is Zoom. What is it about Zoom that makes it stand out?
Zoom has a lot of great benefits that make it stand out. It is easy to use, and the free version is still a great version to use. If you need to upgrade, the pricing is very fair. It has great video and audio quality, and screen sharing. For everyone to join from their phone, tablet or desktop, it is just a quick click. There is no infrastructure required — everything runs on the Cloud, and you can easily record the entire session. You can also use it as either a video platform or an audio-only conference call.
What resources (i.e., laptop, Wi-Fi) does each user need available to them to use Zoom?
All you need is a reliable Internet connection, a laptop/computer, a speaker, webcam and a microphone.
What are some unique experiences that event professionals can bring to their clients by using a digital meeting platform? How will it make their events stand out above other ones?
The greatest advantage is they can save time and money for online business meetings, conference calls and hosting events. You can easily host webinars at little cost and get access to amazing speakers/presenters at minimal-to-no cost (no need to pay for flight, accommodations, etc.). There is also the ability to increase the number of participants in your events and meetings with people connecting remotely.