Event

 

Each voting member was provided with a Communicator keypad which they inserted their pre-programmed Smartcard into, activating the voting system. Members simply cast their vote by pressing 1, 2 or 3 on the keypads. These numbers correlated with the options presented to delegates: 1 = For, 2 = Against and 3 = Abstain.

 

Members had a short period of time to record their vote, during which they could change their minds as many times as they wished. To change a vote, members simply had to press the 'C' button to cancel a vote and then make a different choice. The last vote cast within the time frame available was registered by the system.

 

As soon as a vote had been cast, the Communicator received a message confirming that a vote had been registered, giving members confidence that their vote had been received.

 

"Delegates particularly like the screen, which gives a visual confirmation that their vote has been accepted. This has vastly reduced the number of queries from disgruntled delegates who suspect their handset is faulty."

Peter Willis, Peter Willis Productions, Conference organisers for the RCN.

 

IML’s system calculated all live votes in seconds and displayed the results instantly on-screen in front of delegates. In the past, delegates had to wait until the next day for the results of a vote.

 

“Our members now leave congress really passionate and fired-up about issues because the outcome of every vote is immediate and they can instantly see how other members have voted.

 

“The Communicator has also given delegates the courage to express their true opinions. We cast an electronic vote asking whether the rules on industrial action should be changed. 99.9% of the audience voted in favour, whilst just two voted against. I very much doubt that they would have cast that vote if they had to put their hand up in a huge auditorium, through fear of being demonised and intimidated by the majority."

Brain French, RCN Conference Organiser.

 

Another serious disadvantage to the RCN’s previous voting system was its susceptibility to calculation errors. In contrast, the IML system is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act and is proven 100% accurate and fair. A scrutineer’s report gives a detailed breakdown of activity during voting, providing a full and clear audit trail.

 

Substituting votes

 

If a voting member needed to leave the conference hall at any time during congress, they were able to hand control of their keypad over to a colleague, having first informed them of how they wanted them to vote in their absence.

 

Microphone queue

 

All members attending congress had the right to speak in debates and those wanting to speak had to first enter the microphone queuing system.

 

In order to access the microphone queue, members simply inserted their Smartcards into the Communicator and pressed the blue menu button when they wished to speak. They were entered into the queue automatically on a first come, first served basis.

 

The display on the Communicator confirmed to delegates that their request to speak had been registered. If members changed their minds about speaking, they could easily take themselves out of the queue by removing their Smartcard from the handset.

 

The Chair of Congress called members at the front of the microphone queue to speak. Once called, members made their way to the stage and delivered their speeches from the main lectern. As members addressed congress, live video footage of them speaking was projected onto a large screen behind them.

 

Non-voting members who weren’t automatically provided with a Communicator handset could collect a handset from one of ten microphone queuing points around the auditorium.

 

“IML’s Microphone Queuing software has transformed the way our members gain access to addressing congress. In the past, there were always a small number of people who constantly seemed to be speaking on the microphone, whilst hundreds of others were not getting their say. IML have made the process so much more democratic, as members get the chance to speak based on how quickly they entered the microphone queue. Microphone queuing ensures all members have an equal chance of being called to speak by the chair."

Brian French, Conference and Events Manager, RCN.

 

 

Other benefits 

 

 

Every IML Communicator has an in-built alarm, which will sound at the end of conference, reminding delegates that handsets must be returned.

 

 

Client testimonials

 

"We have been employing the IML Communicator system on behalf of the Royal College of Nursing for the past three years, and in our opinion, there is nothing else on the market that comes close to providing a comparable level of functionality and range of features."

Peter Will, Peter Willis Productions.

 

"Using interactive technology is befitting to our image as a modern, professional association. The RCN is committed to taking on new opportunities and developments to take congress forward. We could never go back to the our old ways of running congress, our members always want to see and try new things and the IML system helps us to achieve that."

Brian French, RCN Conference Organiser.

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