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We've been having a heat wave in the U.S. Midwest, and one of the clients I was working with was reluctant to make a walk of three blocks in 105 F weather. We made due with phone calls and I sent some Stata output by email. But with all the new developments in computer technology, has anyone done consulting using the same technology that allows us to broadcast webinars? I would have liked to have an audio connection and the ability to present Stata output live as I am generating and updating a rather complex program.

Surely this must be an easy thing to do and just as surely, someone on this list must have done it. I'd be very appreciative of any information that would help me do this in the future. I would always prefer face to face consulting, of course, but I could see remote consulting as a way to save time and stretch my limited resources.

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Stephen Simon
Independent Statistical Consultant
P. Mean Consulting
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Dear Dr Simon,
 
Maybe  you can try one of the many available remote meeting software for instance:
http://www.remotepc.com/remote-meeting.htm

Or, if you simply want to have a face to face meeting without having to provide remote access to your computer skype might be another option.

Hope it helps.
Tasneem

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[Tasneem] [Zaihra]
[Post Doctoral Fellow]
[McGill University]
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Hi Steve,

I do.  I use GoToMeeting, which is the one on one equivalent of GoToWebinar, and I've been using it for about four years now.

You're right it's not exactly the same as in-person consultations, but it's pretty amazing.  We can look at either of our screens, and share each other's mouse.  This allows me, for example, to show someone the steps to an analysis in stat software or to highlight something on their output.

I live in a very small city with one major research university that provides free statistical consulting to researchers.  (I used to work there before going out on my own).  I could have never survived on local clients, and I regularly work with clients all over the world.  So this was a must for me.  I tried to work just over the phone at first, but found it too hard if we couldn't look at the same output or software.

It's not perfect--there are technical difficulties at time, but overall it has worked well for me.

Karen

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Karen Grace-Martin
Senior Statisical Consultant
The Analysis Factor
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Hello All,

Good question with some good directions.

If you're interested in this topic and going to JSM, then I encourage you to attend the Invited Papers session "Challenges and Opportunities of Remote Statistical Consulting" sponsored by our Section on Statistical Consulting.

http://www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2012/onlineprogram/ActivityDetails.cfm?SessionID=207616

The following highly experienced statisticians will be speaking.

148 * !

Mon, 7/30/2012, 10:30 AM - 12:20 PM

CC-Room 29D

10:35 AM	Working and Consulting Remotely: The Future Is Here - Christy Chuang-Stein, Pfizer Inc.
11:00 AM	Avoiding Misunderstandings and Rework in Remote Consulting - Mary Batcher, Ernst & Young
11:25 AM	Moving to Hawaii Soon - Jim Rutherford, Chevron
11:50 AM	Discussant: George Milliken, Milliken and Associates

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Charles Kincaid
Engagement Director
Experis Business Analytics
chuck.kincaid@experis.com

Webmaster
Section on Statistical Consulting
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-09-2012 15:18
From: Stephen Simon
Subject: Remote consulting session

We've been having a heat wave in the U.S. Midwest, and one of the clients I was working with was reluctant to make a walk of three blocks in 105 F weather. We made due with phone calls and I sent some Stata output by email. But with all the new developments in computer technology, has anyone done consulting using the same technology that allows us to broadcast webinars? I would have liked to have an audio connection and the ability to present Stata output live as I am generating and updating a rather complex program.

Surely this must be an easy thing to do and just as surely, someone on this list must have done it. I'd be very appreciative of any information that would help me do this in the future. I would always prefer face to face consulting, of course, but I could see remote consulting as a way to save time and stretch my limited resources.

-------------------------------------------
Stephen Simon
Independent Statistical Consultant
P. Mean Consulting
-------------------------------------------

HI Steve:

Same as Karen, but we use WebEx.  It is great for sharing desk tops (as Karen notes), has a video feed and allows computer based audio - so the 800 number is not required (if your client has a computer headset).  You can go by the meeting, but we pay monthly ($49) and have never exceeded the alotted time.

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Janet McDougall
President
McDougall Scientific Ltd
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-09-2012 15:29
From: Karen Grace-Martin
Subject: Remote consulting session

Hi Steve,

I do.  I use GoToMeeting, which is the one on one equivalent of GoToWebinar, and I've been using it for about four years now.

You're right it's not exactly the same as in-person consultations, but it's pretty amazing.  We can look at either of our screens, and share each other's mouse.  This allows me, for example, to show someone the steps to an analysis in stat software or to highlight something on their output.

I live in a very small city with one major research university that provides free statistical consulting to researchers.  (I used to work there before going out on my own).  I could have never survived on local clients, and I regularly work with clients all over the world.  So this was a must for me.  I tried to work just over the phone at first, but found it too hard if we couldn't look at the same output or software.

It's not perfect--there are technical difficulties at time, but overall it has worked well for me.

Karen

-------------------------------------------
Karen Grace-Martin
Senior Statisical Consultant
The Analysis Factor
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