Virtual ICSOC 2020

Since the inception of The International Conference on Service Oriented Computing  (ICSOC) in 2003, this is the first time that the conference is happening in the Middle East, exactly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and going online.  We were extremely excited to host you here in Dubai, but COVID-19 pandemic has decided differently. We were envisioning an exciting scientific program for the conference enriched with many social and cultural events that would make all attendees enjoy the local culture and appreciate the hospitality of UAE citizens and residents.  We hope that there will be another opportunity in the near future to share with you the beauty and richness of Dubai. For the time being, we will do our best, with your support of course, to make ICSOC 2020 an excellent opportunity for knowledge dissemination and networking. ICSOC 2020 will run online this year using Zoom platform. While this will never equal any in-person experience, we are convinced that the conference’s aims will be achieved. Whether you are author or attendee, we would like to share with you some guidelines and instructions that would ensure a smooth progress of the conference’s sessions, workshops, and other activities.

For authors

Before the presentation/conference

  1. Make sure that you record your presentation (audio + video). While we do not recommend any recording tool, we would like to suggest following the procedure explained below for recording the presentation.
  2. The recording should not exceed the allocated presentation time (25 minutes for long papers and 15 minutes for short papers).
  3. Make your presentation available for download through for instance, Dropbox or any file sharing site. You must share the recording link no later than 3 days before the presentation schedule. The recordings will allow us to address any last-minute technical glitch like lack of or limited connection.
  4. Setup your equipment
    1. Download Zoom desktop app (https://zoom.us/download);
    2. To avoid any noise and echo, we recommend getting a headset and microphone if you already do not have them.
    3. Test your audio and video.

During the session

  1. Sessions in the main conference will run in a sequence and as a webinar mode. Workshops, running on the first day, will run in parallel and in a meeting mode.
  2. A panelist, host, co-host, etc. will control attendees’ participations to ensure a smooth progress of the sessions. To ask questions:
    1. Virtually raise your hand using the appropriate Zoom button.
    2. You will be granted audio (and video, if you wish) permission.
    3. Use the microphone when speaking.
    4. Make sure the microphone is on and close enough to pick up the voice
    5. If you are not talking, mute/turn off the microphone
    6. Avoid disturbing activities like typing and using other electronic devices while the microphone is enabled.
  3. Attendees can also type their questions or comments through the Q&A messenger to interact with the paper’s presenter and/or session’s chair

After the session

  1. At the end of each session, we will provide zoom link for each author so that other attendees can discuss the presentation in further details, if needed.
  2. A general zoom session will be open for networking purposes too (to replace the coffee break).

Note: Please note that zoom links to all sessions will be available in due time, communicated to all presenters and registered attendees.

For attendees

Before the conference

  1. All attendees must register (for free) via the registration website: https://www.conftool.com/icsoc2020/index.php
  2. Setup your equipment
    1. Download Zoom desktop app (https://zoom.us/download);
    2. To avoid any noise and echo, we recommend getting a headset and microphone if you already do not have them.
    3. Test your audio and video.

During the session

  1. Sessions in the main conference will run in a sequence and as a webinar mode. Workshops, running on the first day, will run in parallel and in a meeting mode.
  2. A panelist, host, co-host, etc. will control attendees’ participations to ensure a smooth progress of the sessions. To ask questions:
    1. Virtually raise your hand using the appropriate Zoom button.
    2. You will be granted audio (and video, if you wish) permission.
    3. Use the microphone when speaking.
    4. Make sure the microphone is on and close enough to pick up the voice
    5. If you are not talking, mute/turn off the microphone
    6. Avoid disturbing activities like typing and using other electronic devices while the microphone is enabled.
  3. Attendees can also type their questions or comments through the Q&A messenger to interact with the paper’s presenter and/or session’s chair

After the session

  1. At the end of each session, we will provide zoom link for each author so that other attendees can discuss the presentation in further details, if needed.
  2. A general zoom session will be open for networking purposes too (to replace the coffee break).

Note: Please note that zoom links to all sessions will be available in due time, communicated to all presenters and registered attendees.

Presentation recoding guidelines

The recording of the presentation is mandatory for all presentations at ICSOC 2020. The recordings will allow us to address any last-minute technical glitches like lack of or limited connection. The easiest way of performing such a recording is to use one of the widely available conferencing tools, democratized by the pandemic. Here are some of these tools:

You can also use the two step method covered below:

When recording, you can include your face in the video (enable the webcam if you would like – this is not mandatory). The slides are displayed as you talk. Make sure that you get a high quality recording You can use any meeting software as long as you get a good quality recording, preferably in MP4 format.

While we leave the authors free to choose the platform for their recording, our recommended approach to record a compatible video from content displayed on your computer screen and voice recorded via the computer microphone, is to record the presentation using Zoom, available to users on most platforms and in most countries:

Instructions for recording your presentation with Zoom: https://ieeetv.ieee.org/mobile/video/recording-your-presentation-with-zoom

Guidelines for preparing your video

  • Duration: 15 minutes (short papers) or 25 minutes (long papers)
  • File size: 250MB max
  • Video file format: Preferably mp4
  • Dimensions: Minimum height 480 pixels, aspect ratio: 16:9

Please be sure the video includes the title of the paper, the authors, and a mention to ICSOC 2020. We suggest you share the video with us ahead of time so that we can review it and allow some time in case anything going wrong to be fixed.

Finally, please name your fine with your paper ID, e.g., for paper ID = 150 the video file should be like 150.mpg4 (in case the format is mpg4)

Tips for Recording:

  1. Use as quiet an area as possible
  2. Avoid areas that have echo
    1. Rooms should be fairly small
    2. Sound dampening with carpeting, curtains, furniture
  3. Hardline internet connection recommended, but if unavailable, a strong Wi-Fi connection
  4. Good headset with microphone close to mouth BUT away from direct line of mouth to reduce “pops”.  Avoid using default built-in microphone on computer.
  5. Do a test recording of a couple of minutes and review the sound and picture quality, MP4 format, and bit rate before recording the entire presentation.  Make adjustments if needed.