Backchannel chatter is happening in the broader context of audiences in general expecting and receiving greater interactivity.

CNN: Social anxiety, meet social networking

Some presenters and panelists are starting to monitor the backchannel during their presentations in hopes of better serving the audience, and to check how they're being perceived.

CNN: Social anxiety, meet social networking

So far, it's at tech-oriented conferences like this where people are most aware of the "backchannel, " or the real-time electronic chit-chat going on about presentations as they occur.

CNN: Social anxiety, meet social networking

But backchannel savvy can pay off.

CNN: Social anxiety, meet social networking

Industry backchannel conspiracies aside, however, it's only to our advantage to have a choice -- if you're looking to upgrade your digital SLR without taking out a second mortgage, you can now pick Nikon's model, or the EOS 6D from Canon.

ENGADGET: Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video) Hands-on