The Audience Response System! You must be wondering what it is? You might have used once or many times unaware of the fact that you are using the most versatile technology.

As it is quite obvious from the self explanatory name that Audience Response System has to deal with the reactions or responses from the masses or the audiences. It is the interaction between the presenter and his audiences using the multipurpose wireless device with presentation software. The system for remote users which obtains immediate feedback for the host in a synchronous way.

An Audience Response System (ARS) is also known as a Group Response System (GRS) or Classroom Performance System (CPS).

Imagine! Now no more raising hands till hours and shouting in crowd to give your feedback or get selected. Audience Response System automated the whole System. The audience can participate by selecting the answer they feel is right by pressing the respective key on the respective wireless keypad. Their answer is send to the base station, a centralized system, where data gets collected and the consolidated data is graphically presented to the users. As per the presenter’s requirement the data can be collected anonymously (e.g. in the case of voting) or individually if in case presenter needs to track which user answered correctly (e.g. classroom quizzes).The incoming data from the masses gets stored in the database that is located in the host computer, and the reports can be generated and populate for further analysis and judgment. Its hardware includes two technologies to send data to the base station: Infrared and Radiofrequency. A few companies also offer browser-based software that routes the data via an IP address.

Infrared (IR): IR audience response systems are suitable for smaller groups. Radio Frequency (RF): are better suited for large group environments, RF systems do not require line of sight for functioning and can accommodate hundreds of voters on a single base station. Browser-Based: Browser-based audience response systems are still in the early phases of its development.

Audience Response Systems are more flexible because for more of it benefits. As I have already mentioned above it eliminated the hands raising and shouting which cause chaos unnecessarily. The few more added advantages are that it improves the attention among the crowd, it increases the awareness and knowledge spreading is comparatively better, display the results fast and accurate, Stores data from polling and can be further retrieved for reports generation and estimation. Paced up the decision making, polling anonymously is one major key feature. Each and every individual’s response can be tracked, improves the host skills. Above all it creates the fun environment and maximizes the participation.

The core areas in which Audience Response Systems found its maximum usage are Education and learning, Training held in Corporate, Game shows (e.g.: audience poll in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"), Conferences and Events, surveys and research, sales, marketing, polling and voting, Decision makings.

I would also like to share research made by Decision Tree Consulting (DTC) over a period of time for Audience Response System. You must be really amazed to know that over 7 million voting handsets has been sold from 2003 to 2006.And again a high percentage of handsets are predicated to be sold.

To cope up with the present scenario in the market today for from future prospective some companies are initiating towards software approach of Audience Response System by taking into active use of cellular text messaging network and plug-ins fro application like PowerPoint. This doesn’t require the high tech hardware and are really appreciated by professionals and large meeting halls that do not want to purchase or rent out the Audience Response System hardware.

The majority of the upcoming professionals are opting for this multitalented System for presenting their skills in this cut-throat competition. So don’t stay behind and wait. It’s the right time to come forward and ask for more flexible technology you ever had.