[Imc-alternatives] the wish list!!

[Dave Fregon]

Now we are cooking ;) ... I'm just commenting in these bits from my
perspective, and probably other tech perspectives, more for my own
memory/recall than anything else.

All this is pretty straight forward, I think I will get it down in a
more project oriented format from my notes on it, in a code
wiki/ticketing/milestone etc system as soon as I can (next couple of
days) ...

On Sat, 2007-03-31 at 14:46 -0400, Jay wrote:
> In my mind I break it up into to slightly different but overlapping questions:
> 1) how would an individual best use the site?
> 2) how would an organization best use the site?
> 3) how would it feel to admin the site?
> 
> 1) individuals
> a) As a very new user, especially as someone new to the concept of 
> alternatives, I'd like to be able to
> -- go to the front page and see clearly laid out features about news, 
> success stories and other things relating to alternatives.  (I 
> envision this as a center column and open newswire layout similar to 
> most indymedia sites)

Pretty straight forward, this could also be extended to something like
user choice of front page based on their profile choices eg:
environment, politics, etc.

> -- get an overview of different issues in the world of alternatives 
> (meaning, the site should have clearly navigable general categories, 
> so if I want to learn about altenative education, for example, I can 
> get to a general overview that will give me some information about 
> that without having to know everything about it)

in geek speek we are talking taxonomies (categories)/tagging. Drupal has
this for example as a module I think, but that's the geek term for this
stuff.

This extends to users being able to submit items, and categorise or tag
them.

> -- easily find alternatives-oriented organizations, events and 
> individuals in my geographic area (maps are nice)
> I'd like to be able to do this all without having to register for anything.
> Basically, I'd want a confident, elegant and clear site that gives me 
> easy access to information

OK this may call for either :

front page changes to user-oriented on login OR (easier)
another user page with user-oriented focusses based on users location
info. A users/groups homepage.

> 
> b) As as more interested user I'd like to be able to do all of the 
> above, plus be able to
> -- make a home page on the site with information about me (where I 
> can list my interests and link up with "friends")

see above! ^^ definitely one of the features is a user-oriented page,
this could also be public, so that others can see collections of
information based on users choices. ie: a users page is much like a
customised front page, based on their interests. (whether they are a
group or individual)

> -- customize the front page so I can see news about alternatives I'm 
> interested in, as well as syndicate content from blogs and gets 
> alerts for local events and important announcements from local 
> organizations (event and announcements for which I've signed up)

subscription service - I think this is important as it means users do
not necessarily have to go to the site to be included and get
information, it also brings users back to the site.

> -- easily find local organizations and other local site users

Members based searches.

> -- post my own alternatives news to the general newswire and comment 
> to the newswire

standard fare in most all cms.

> -- edit the site's wikified information pages (like the general 
> overview of each category, and "how-to" pages)

wiki's! this could be extended to rights based sharing so that group
members can edit group information, but no one else (so groups don't get
targetted by wiki-wreckers destroying a groups info)

> -- join an organization's mailing list or forum

Group/individual information pages should have this option

> -- view and edit "how-to" information for how to do things (like 
> build rooftop solar collectors or start an alternative school)

Wiki's again?

> -- create forums about alternatives-oriented topics

forum modules allowing users to add their own forums, and manage them
how they wish (private and public?)

> -- write a blog about alternatives issues that other site users can syndicate

well .. blogs :)

> -- chat with other site users

PM system? live chat?

> -- rate newswire articles

ratings system ..

> -- be able to tag content and view tagged content

this comes back to a taxonomy/keyword system

> -- have access to a ride-board/couch-surf space

custom coding here?

> -- have the option of receiving news and event listings via e-mail

subscription service again

> -- be able to list available skills and needs, as well as search for 
> other users with similar skills and/or organiations/users with compatible needs

This I think should be hooked into the portal membership system, based
on users information.

> 2) organizations
> a) As an organization that uses the alternatives site for basic 
> information, I'd like to be able to
> -- have access to a lot of basic news content and audio/video 
> resources, as well as organizational how-to pages and lists of 
> similar organizations broken up geographically
> -- have access to a calendar of events, local and beyond depending on 
> our choice, related to our field/s of interest
> 
> b) As an organization that uses the alterantives site as its home 
> base, I'd like to be able to
> -- have a home page on the site, with information about the group and 
> its issues as well as links to a mailing list, any forums, any blogs 
> by members or interesting blogs about the issue/s at hand, meeting 
> times/event calendar, "friends" such as group members or supporters, 
> and links to organizatioal "friends" working on similiar issues -- 
> i.e. to "network")
> -- a place to post meeting minutes and other internal information for 
> the group (being able to choose whether members need to log-on or if 
> minutes are public)
> -- searchable mailing list archives (accessible publicly or not, by 
> choice of organization)
> -- have wiki pages for organizational projects
> -- an announcement e-mail list that can shoot e-mails or front page 
> alerts to site users who sign up
> -- decision-making software so group can come to consensus/tally votes on-line
> -- have easy access to "how-to" information, as well as successes, 
> best practices, etc.
> -- have a chat space and the ability to open up forums
> -- be able to list skills available and organizational needs, as well 
> as search for individuals/organizations with compatible needs

I think a lot of the groups abilities could also be available to
individuals too, this way, others can 'join up' and form a group, just
by association. this would allow groups to actually form on the site,
not necessarily have to be a group to start.

It would also be interesting to have a consensus system that allowed
groups to work with other groups .. federate.

> 3) as an administrator I'd basically like to have being site admin not suck.
> -- simple, intiuitive, fast site admin screens
> -- good spam-catching
> -- easy method to move content around the site, like putting a great 
> newswire article into the center column or being able to feature an 
> interesting blog entry
> -- straightforward and transparent access to all admin functions
> In general, I envision some individuals using the site to get general 
> information about alternatives, while others would become part of the 
> community and find other people and organizations working on similar 
> issues and get involved that way.  For organizations, I'd like to see 
> the alternatives site develop as a home base for groups that can use 
> all the tools to make their own local organizing easier, while also 
> connecting with individuals and organizaitons around the world that 
> do similar things.  As we've discussed before, the key is to enable 
> individuals and organizations to translate all this on-line 
> information and networking into off-line action.
> 
> This is a lot, but even still I'm sure I missed something.
> Jay
> P.S. I think using the wiki for this kind of stuff (supplementing the 
> e-mail list discussions) is good, while having some kind of more 
> intricate system for people actually working on the code makes sense. 

Yes, I started commenting here, it needs to go into a site-outline, I
will setup a trac/ticketing/wiki system for the coding aspect.

Dave

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