Today, Microsoft released Bing Pulse 2.0, a new self-service beta version of its Bing Pulse real-time voting platform, which has been used by organizations and media outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, the Clinton Global Initiative, and Fox News.
Bing Pulse 2.0 allows meeting and event organizers to receive instant audience feedback by being installed as an app on smartphones, tablets, and laptops, or accessed via website. The new platform, says Microsoft General Manager of Corporate Strategy Josh Gottheimer, is a way to combat technological disruptions or distractions during meetings.
"With the proliferation of the second screen, audience attention is being quickly diverted," says Gottheimer. "Bing Pulse helps event producers take control of the second screen experience by keeping audiences actively engaged in the content at hand." He adds, "We've successfully tested this product and know that the Bing Pulse voting platform effectively incites people to pay attention and react to programming, meeting, or conferences. Plus, event producers are immediately tuned into their audiences, and can quickly execute real-time adjustments to the programming, increasing viewer engagement and interest."
Gottheimer says that the idea for Bing Pulse cam about as a way to "figure out an incredible experience while watching TV." He says, "Eighty percent of people now, when they watch TV or they're in a conference or meeting, they're on their phone of tablet or laptop, looking something up. They have a second screen. We were trying to figure out what we could develop a way to increase engagement with what they were watching or sitting in on."
He adds, "I see this as a real opportunity to give people a voice to be heard in a meeting. You can actually engage in a meeting, and feel like you have a voice - in real time."
How It Works
To use Bing Pulse 2.0, a meeting attendee simply logs in to the platform and they can "pulse" vote as often as every two to three seconds, with results being generated almost immediately.
"With 2.0, if you're having a meeting, you can use Pulse to see if anyone agrees or disagrees with what they are watching to/listening to at a meeting," explains Gottheimer. "They can pulse away, and you can feed real-time questions directly to participants via their phones, tablets, and laptops."
The Bing Pulse 2.0 platform is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems. Event organizers can choose what details attendees must give upon registration, and there's also no individual naming or logging in.
"Everyone logs in anonymously; you just log in according to the demographics that you want," Gottheimer says. "Bing Pulse tracks the aggregation of the content, but not the individuals.
"Technology like this really gives people another channel to keep them there, and keep them engaged. It gives your feedback about what people like and don't like. It lets you see what works and what doesn't, and it's really useful data to make meetings even more engaging."