UR2020 never stands still! You will undoubtedly have many questions regarding the new format. We are updating this page as more details arise. So stay tuned and check out the FAQs page on a regular basis!
Virtual questions
Will UR2020 be a traditional event as we are used to it?
2020, like for everyone, has thrown a bit of a curveball and our plans have been derailed. But we are creating a virtual event instead!
We will have keynotes, plenaries and other surprises taking place on Tuesday, December 1. Other plenaries will also be featured on Wednesday, Dec. 2 and Thursday, Dec. 3.
Technical Sessions and Focus Day Events are now combined as “Community Sessions”. Each Community Session will be scheduled in 55-minute blocks in one of the following time periods:
- 2:00 – 5:00 UTC (business hours for East Asia, the Pacific)
- 10:00 – 13:00 UTC (business hours for West Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe)
- 15:00 – 18:00 UTC (business hours for Middle East, Africa, Europe, Americas)
Use a time zone converter or check out this map to understand how it affects you.
And don’t forget to check out the agenda! We are updating the agenda regularly as we get more information in from session organizers.
Will the conference be structured as a 5 day event as in the past?
No. The whole event will take place between Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 3. But note that we will also host the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) Summit on Friday, December 4.
Will UR2020 be held in Singapore?
Unfortunately, there will be no in-person event in Singapore.
When will registration open?
Registration will open two weeks before the event on November 17th. To register, please click on the “Register Now” button on the event page.
Will I have to stare at the screen for hours on end?
No! We are doing what we can to make sure UR continues to be a dynamic and stimulating event. We have participated in many virtual events over the last few months and we know that staring at a screen is exhausting. We are exploring new ways of delivering content without straining your eyes and brain.
How will you handle different time zones?
In order to accommodate nearly all business hours, UR Community Sessions will be programmed sometime during these time zones:
- 2:00 – 5:00 UTC (business hours for East Asia, the Pacific)
- 10:00 – 13:00 UTC (business hours for West Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe)
- 15:00 – 18:00 UTC (business hours for Middle East, Africa, Europe, Americas)
Use a time zone converter or check out this map to understand how it affects you. Check out the agenda to learn more. We are updating the agenda regularly as we get more information in from session organizers.
All activities will be recorded and posted in the On Demand Library after the event.
General
What is the difference between the Focus Day events and a technical session?
There is no difference anymore! Technical Sessions and Focus Day Events are all considered “Community Sessions” now and will be 55 minutes in length.
Will there be interpretation available?
We are working to identify solutions that enable near real-time interpretation for a variety of languages. However, these will be AI-generated and will likely not be up to the same standard of in-person interpretation.
How long is UR2020?
The UR2020 program occurs from Tuesday, December 1 – Thursday, December 3 primarily around these three time zone blocks:
- 2:00 – 5:00 UTC (business hours for East Asia, the Pacific)
- 10:00 – 13:00 UTC (business hours for West Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe)
- 15:00 – 18:00 UTC (business hours for Middle East, Africa, Europe, Americas)
When can we expect to see the full program?
The agenda is regularly being updated as we receive more information from session organizers.
UR has done Ignite presentations in the past. What are they and will you do them again?
We had plans to showcase Ignites, but unfortunately are not going to feature them this year.
Is there a registration fee for the event?
No, UR is free for anyone to attend, however you must register using the “Register Now” button on the event page.
Will my old registration still be valid for the new dates?
No, registration is closed for the moment. We will cancel your registration and refund the registration fee soon. We are working with the registration company to process refunds. Thank you for your patience. To register, please click the “Register Now” button on the event page.
Registration/Login & Technical Event FAQs
Do I need to register for this event?
In order to attend this event, you must register here.
How do I log in to the platform?
In order to log in to the event platform, simply click on the email that you were sent and this will forward you to the site and log you in securely. If you find yourself being asked to “Log In” whilst trying to view the session, please click the button “Log in” and enter your email address. This will trigger a verification email to your email address from registration@ur2020.org. Click on the link within the email which will automatically log you in and take you back to the event platform.
It says my email is invalid.
Please make sure when you enter your email that you are using the same email that the invitation email was sent to and remove any spaces. If you are still having issues please contact helpdesk@ur2020.org
Recommended System Configuration
We recommend that while attending this event you use the following setup:
- Laptop or desktop computer
- Google Chrome web browser
- Have a solid internet connection (5mbps up and down as a minimum)
Supported Windows Systems
- Windows 10, Windows 8 or 8.1, Windows 7
- Chrome, Firefox, and Edge (* V. 81+)
- Computer or laptop with Intel Pentium 4 processor or later that is SSE2 capable and 512 MB of RAM, or a Surface PRO 2 or Surface PRO 3
Supported Mac OS X Systems
- Mac OS X, macOS 10.9 or later
- Chrome and Firefox
- Intel processor 64-bit and 512 MB of RAM
Can I attend the event on my phone?
For the optimum viewing experience, we recommend that you attend via Chrome on a laptop or desktop however mobile viewing is available if required.
Do I need a WiFi connection?
In order to ensure the highest quality experience, we recommend a strong and stable WiFi connection or an ethernet cable if available. If your internet connection is unstable, you can hotspot on 3g/4g using a mobile device.
My internet is running slowly, is there anything I can do to help?
Ensure you are using Google Chrome. Disconnect from any VPN. Close any other tabs that may be using bandwidth and disconnect other devices on the same network. You may also want to check that no one in the house is using your bandwidth by streaming Netflix / Amazon Prime / Disney+.
Do I need to allow Microphone and Camera access?
For viewing sessions, you will not need your camera or microphone set up. When entering community sessions, you may be put into smaller groups, it is recommended to allow microphone and camera access. If you have granted microphone and camera access, you can always turn off your camera and/or mute your microphone from within the event.
What should I do if I don’t have audio?
First, check that your computer has the sound on and the volume up by going to your computer’s audio settings and pressing the test sounds, or navigating to another video on the web and making sure you can hear audio through your computer’s speakers or headphones. If you hear audio on other videos on the web and not on the live video stream, check that the volume in the player is turned up.
I don’t have video, what should I do?
If you see a blank screen or a spinning wheel and this remains for longer than a few seconds, please refresh your page. We recommend viewing on an up-to-date version of Chrome.
Contact Us
Questions or concerns, please reach out to helpdesk@ur2020.org and one of our team members will get back to you.
Community Session Leads
I’m a session lead, do I have to register for the event?
Yes, all session leads, speakers and contributers to the Community Sessions have to register for the event here in order to be able to access the entire content of UR2020.
What are all my responsibilities as a Community Session Lead in this new environment?
Please review this Overview Guide and Guide for Delivering a Community Session for all questions related to Community Session Leads.
What kind of support will the UR team provide to Community Sessions?
Please review this Overview Guide and Guide for Delivering a Community Session for all questions related to Community Session Leads.
How long are Community Sessions?
Community Sessions will be 55 minutes to allow participants a short break between sessions.
Will Community Sessions be live streamed or recorded?
All sessions will be live streamed, and recorded so that they can be made available on the On Demand Library.
I’m a session lead, what are some interactive tools that can be used to poll the audience?
Please review this Guide for Delivering a Community Session for all questions related to the Community Session management.
Will training sessions for leads and session managers be available to explain the features and functionalities of the platform?
Yes, we will organize training sessions for all session leads and session managers. You will receive an email invite to register for the training sessions. If you have not received an email invitation, please contact communitysessions@smyle.co.uk.
Virtual sessions can be more difficult to logistically and technically manage and we want to help you have a successful session. If you do not attend a training session, you may have some questions the day-of and may run into some technical difficulties that our tech support team may not be able to assist you with right away. Therefore, if you do not attend a training session, we reserve the right to cancel your session.
Will Community Session Leads be asked to do an Ignite presentation?
No, UR is not doing Ignites this year.