Frequently Asked Questions

Here's a list of FAQ's which should assist you with any queries you may have. However, should you not find the answers to any of your questions or queries, please use our “e-mail” or "Call Back" feature on the right hand side and we'll get back to you with an answer.

How do I ensure that delegates are responding to the questions?

For various reasons, not all delegates respond to all questions. It is possible to display a counter on screen showing how many responses have been received to each question, but doing this can result in an extended debate, which delays proceedings. And can sometimes cause embarrassment. CWi therefore recommend displaying just the percentage of responses and analysing the actual number of votes cast after the event.

Will I know how many responses I receive to a question?

As outlined above, it is possible to display the number of responses on screen and the post analysis will always show how many delegates actually voted. It is also possible to show the actual data on the graphs instead of percentages, but we would always recommend using the latter option.

What if a delegate wishes to change their response to a question?

Whilst polling is open, which is usually displayed by a countdown timer on screen, delegates can change their minds as often as they want. The system will only count the last vote entered on each keypad before polling closes.

How do I analyse the responses?

The interactive software captures all responses into an Excel spreadsheet for post analysis. Within this, if a question has been asked which categorises the audience by demographics, job title for example, all subsequent responses can be analysed by individual respondents’ job title, giving a separate graphical display based on how each sub-group voted. This data is not however available for on-screen display.

Can I change or add questions during the event or must it all be planned in advance?

Ad-hoc questions can be added at any time during a voting session. These can be added “live” during a voting session, but in most instances, in order to maintain a consistency of presentation, advantage can be taken of a coffee or lunch break to set up additional questions or make amendments. The results will also be included with the reports, so no valuable data will ever be lost.

Can some answers be given different values?

Yes, points can be allocated to any of the answers. This can be valuable if the voting system is being used as an educational tool and you wish to monitor the progress of individuals. Or if you are holding a quiz based event, leader boards showing the top scores can be shown at any point during the session, whilst reports based on participant results will show how all delegates scored.

What types of question can I ask?

You can ask any question you like, providing the audience can select from multiple choice answers. Open ended questions are not therefore possible.

How are the results displayed?

The results can be displayed a horizontal or vertical bar graphs, 2D or exploded pie charts, offset and doughnut charts, or even priority rankings. Just tell us what you need and we will advise on the most appropriate format.

Can I add graphics to my question slides?

The interactive voting software enables video to be streamed, music stings to be played, and photographs, animations and graphics to be inserted to create a truly interactive event.

Can I get results based on individual responses?

A list of delegates can be input prior to the event and provided that each one retains the same handset throughout each session, this enables a report to be generated showing how named individuals responded. If this facility is to be used however, data protection legislation decrees that delegates must be made aware that their individual votes will be identified. This of course tends to discourage some people from participating, unless it is being used in a competition scenario.

How do delegates know what to do with the handsets?

The TurningPoint electronic voting system is very simple to use and we usually describe it as being similar to the system used in the Ask the Audience section of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, but without the opportunity to win vast sums of money. Delegates simply press a button on the wireless keypad which corresponds with the answer option they have chosen. If additional explanation is felt to be necessary, we can insert a short instructional presentation into the beginning of a voting session.

Can I use a “fastest finger first” competition

Yes, this facility is available and is most often used for light hearted games, rather than for data gathering.

What sort of data do I receive from the interactive session?

There are a whole range of tabulated and graphical reports available. They are provided in the form of Excel spreadsheets and the complexity will depend on whether or not demographic or individual delegate information has been captured.

Do CWi supply different types of Electronic Voting equipment?

For Interactive Voting, we concentrate on the TurningPoint system, which is very portable, accurate and easy to use. But for different applications we can tailor a network of laptops for groups of delegates, or even individuals to write and submit reports or presentations, or even computer terminals which enable text messages to be sent to the speakers during breaks. In our initial discussions we will advise on the most suitable system for each particular meeting.

Do all results have to be shown immediately?

If you would rather keep the voting results back until later in the event, or even not show them to the audience at all, this is of course possible.

Can I compare my results to those obtained in previous presentations?

If you have asked questions before and want to see how delegates’ responses have changed over time, or as a reaction to a particular presentation, up to five comparative links can be inserted into the results slides. And do not worry if CWi did not run the previous voting session, providing you have the results, we can incorporate the comparison into your presentation.

Need further assistance?

Why not use our call back feature. Submit your contact details along with a date and time you would like us to call you back, or if you prefer, we can respond by e-mail.