The two biggest challenges I've seen are hallway track (defined broadly) and just engagement/bandwidth. Not that people aren't distracted by their phones while they're in sessions, but it's that much worse sitting in your office watching what is effectively a webinar--assuming you've even set aside the time and bother to tune in.
I'll be involved in some virtual conference chats over the next few weeks. We'll see how it goes.
The number of drunk/hungover/obviously coding people I've seen at tech conferences makes me realize what your saying isn't much different. Your either paying attention and interested or your not. Being there doesn't help. They're just there for the drinks
If you don't set aside the time why did you sign up?
>If you don't set aside the time why did you sign up?
It seemed like it might be interesting at the time I signed up. It's not unusual for me to have 2 or even 3 low-priority things on my calendar at the same time. To say nothing of ongoing projects that seem more urgent on a given day and which I don't want to interrupt for some webinar.
There's a lot of stuff on my calendar that's either standing calls that I join if the agenda or immediate situation warrants or interesting-looking presentations that I'll listen to on a time-available basis but which aren't necessary.
I'll be involved in some virtual conference chats over the next few weeks. We'll see how it goes.