What are the Webcasts?
The Webcasts, put simply, are all the sessions at Lotus DevCon made available for online viewing. Each Webcast session includes a video in the upper-left of your screen, relevant links below that, and the current presentation slide on the right. You can see a screenshot of what a Webcast looks like in Figure A. Note, however, that the video didn't show up when I did the screenshot.

FIGURE A

Here is what the Webcast screen looks like, minus the video on the upper-left. Click picture for a larger image.

The Lotus Webcasts started all the way back in October of last year with Lotusphere Europe 1999 and came to full fruition at Lotusphere 2000 in Orlando. Their latest incarnation for the Lotus DevCon 2000 event improves upon what they've done in the past.

A way to manage and control information overload
No matter how good a conference is, it's hard to fight this common factor: they're exhausting. There are too many things to see in too short a time. Before you know it, you're back at the office, and all you have to show for your conference experience is whatever notes you managed to take, whatever hangover you've failed to shake, and one big honkin' binder. At least that's the way it was in the old days. The Webcasts have helped to change all that.

With the Webcasts it's now possible to learn (and perhaps earn) even more. Not only can you catch up on all the sessions you might have missed if you attended the conference, but it also removes some of the pressure of trying to rush from session to session to take it all in. For me, it was an incredible relief not to have to try and rush to attend every session I wanted to see. I've found that a large part of the value I get from Lotus conferences is being able to take the time to explore the product showcase, spend time in the labs, and just plain schmooze with people. Knowing that I'd be able to view the Webcasts later, I was able to be more flexible with my schedule and do all of the things I mentioned above.