[Imc-alternatives] Fwd: Where is ZCom going?

[Josef Davies-Coates]

Interesting, thanks.

Sounds like they are trying to make their own version of iGoogle/ Netvibes/
Pakeflakes.

A brief update on similar developments in my world is that after trying
plone for a while http://the-hub.net have now opted to implement social
network type stuff using http://pinaxproject.com/ and are largely focusing
ongiving users the power of feeds (finding and filtering them) a bit like
friendfeed/ facebook homepage/ twitter

Josef.


2009/3/5 Jay <jay at fundamentalchange.net>

>  Hi alternatives,
>
> ZCommunications, the online world of Z Magazine, is undergoing some serious
> updating and just sent out an overview.  They've clearly been having a lot
> of the same discussions we have about how to create an engaging site that
> will enable people to connect with one another.  Check out their ideas,
> which I'll post below.  Specifically look at #9.
>
> I've always found Z online an incredible resource, though I admit the
> vastness of information on there overwhelms me to the point of my not being
> able to figure out how to engage.  I see the Alternatives IMC as having more
> of a focus on our particular kind of information and organizing and
> therefore serious potential to connect people with very common and specific
> organizing interests.  Still, I definitely see how the Alternatives IMC
> could fit with parts of ZCommunications, and how what ZCom is doing could
> overlap with the Alternatives IMC.
>
> Jay
>
>
>
> Subject: Where is ZCom going?
> Date: Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:00:27 -0700 (MST)
>  Hello,
>
>
>
> Roughly a year ago we did our upgrade of Z's sites transforming them into
> what has become ZCommunications.
>
>
>
> At the time, we promised that the improvements would include not only a new
> look, improved navigation, enlarged and enhanced multimedia, the new ZSpace,
> etc. - but also a new platform for future growth and diversification.
>
>
>
> The programmers doing all this work, are a team from Brazil - the main
> contact is Marcelo Ribeiro. They and we have largely stabilized the upgrade
> to ZCommunications, so it is now time to begin to together fulfill the
> broader promise about further gains based on the new platform.
>
>
>
> Here is a glimpse of some of what's coming for Members, Sustainers, and
> Writers.
>
>
>
>
>
> (1) Minor changes throughout.
>
>
>
> There will be modest changes everywhere, including, for example:
>
>
>    - increased stability and speed
>    - new most viewed statistics and preferences
>    - PDF exporting
>    - enhanced and faster searches
>    - diverse design improvements
>    - better display of content descriptions
>    - better display of author's pictures,
>    - better audio and video players
>    - playlists, and
>    - other modest tweaks throughout.
>
>
> Okay, that's some of the modest stuff. But what about major stuff?
>
>
>
> (2) Personal ZNet Top Page Content Control
>
>
>
> As now, there will continue to be a universal ZNet Top Page that everyone
> who comes to the site initially sees as the default.
>
>
>
> As a Sustainer or Writer, however, you will have the option to create your
> own version of the top page to view instead, whenever you choose, toggling
> between visiting your version or the universal version, as you decide.
>
>
>
> Your personal ZNet top page will have whatever content you choose to give
> it. You will be in charge!
>
>
>
> You will be able to Quick Edit the content boxes that you now see in the
> middle and right most columns of the universal ZNet Top Page - not only
> changing the labels they have, but also changing the actual automated list
> of links controlling how many links appear and the criteria that defines
> them to be pretty much anything you want.
>
>
>
> You don't want a box with Venezuela/Bolivia content, like we now have on
> the top page. Fine. Easily remove it.
>
>
>
> You want a box that displays recent content about Spain or perhaps about
> both South Africa and Mexico instead. Fine, easily add it. You name the
> display area box, you set it up to display what you want, and you drag it
> where you want.
>
>
>
> You want a box that has only your favorite writers' new content displayed.
> No problem. You want a box to display new material from a bunch of writers
> you like? Also no problem. You want everything new on Gender issues to
> appear in a box, or perhaps everything new on genders issues but only if it
> is by some author or authors you like, that's also no problem.
>
>
>
> You want a display box on your personal top page with web links outside
> ZCom that you like to go to and want handy? Fine. Do it, easily. You can
> have whatever content you want.
>
>
>
> In other words, you will be able to set up display boxes for list of links
> on your personal top page of ZNet, much as we have on the universal version,
> but with automated display of links to whatever content you want to
> highlight - of course also removing whatever you don't care to have
> forefront. And you can then change what you have done, with changing times,
> also easily, whenever you like.
>
>
>
>
>
> (3) Personal ZNet Top Page Tabbed Menu System
>
>
>
> Being able to control the content on the top page is awfully nice, you
> might say, I mean even big commercial sites don't have that option, but what
> about the menus? You might say, after all, Z's universal taste in menu links
> and your personal taste don't match?
>
>
>
> Well, that too will be no problem.
>
>
>
> In the tabbed menu at the top of the universal default ZNet top page that
> everyone can see the tabs will continue to be whatever we at Z decide to
> make them, and likewise for the submenus that appear when you roll over a
> tab on the universal top page. But on your own personal ZNet top page, the
> one where you set what content displays, the one that is yours and that only
> you see, you will be able to easily remove or add top menu tabs of your
> choosing, as well as remove or add sub links under those tabs, again of your
> own choosing.
>
>
>
> You want fewer tabs, no problem. Remove what you don't like.
>
>
>
> You want more tabs, okay, you can add what you want.
>
>
>
> You want different labels on the tabs, change them, easily.
>
>
>
> You want existing or new tabs that point to different destinations - even
> outside the site - no problem, you choose.
>
>
>
> You will determine where your menu entries point - anywhere at all, whether
> on site or off. And the same will hold for entries in the submenus that you
> see when you roll over a tab on your top page - you will be able to adapt
> and add and delete them, too, all via easy quick edit.
>
>
>
> You might want to have a friends tab, say, with the submenu displaying
> links to your friends pages. Maybe you want a SiteLinks tab for off site
> links that you like. Perhaps you want a MyContent tab with links to
> different types of your own content. Maybe you want some countries to front
> and center under a places tab, but different countries than we have on the
> universal page - or you might want some topics under a topics tab, but again
> different ones than we have. Maybe you want some favorite writers, under a
> writers tab, or under a blog tab, or whatever. You can have tabs for
> whatever you want to have easiest access too, with whatever sub menu links
> you want.
>
>
>
>
>
> (4) Personal ZNet Top Page Left Menu System
>
>
>
> Okay, you might say, that's wonderful, and unexpected, but as long as we
> are innovating, what about the left menu?
>
>
>
> You like the fact that from the top page you can click an arrow on the left
> menu and instantly set whole sets of recent content by various designations.
> But the content you would like to instantly access that way is different
> from our universal entries. Well, you guessed it, the same logic and
> approach will hold for the left menu as will hold for the tab menu.
>
>
>
> On the universal znet top page, the left menu will be rather like it is now
> with the links and sections that we pick visible to everyone who accesses
> it.
>
>
>
> On your own personal version of the top page, however, the one where you
> determine the content and you determine the tabbed menu entries, the one
> that you can access whenever you want, on the left menu too you can put
> whatever links you want. The names listed will be those you choose, or no
> names if you don't want any. you might choose to have some writers, friends,
> whatever. And ditto for the rest. You can pick different categories of
> content to quick access, countries, or topics, or combinations. The arrows
> will work like now, but the names of the links and what actually displays
> will be up to you.
>
>
>
> The upshot of all this is that your personal ZNet Top Page will have
> broadly the same structure as the current universal ZNet top page, but it
> will have whatever content and menu links suit your content preferences and
> navigational inclinations. We will provide a few typical sample options for
> personal top pages and you can choose one that is close to what you might
> like, and then you can tweak it, or massively alter it, as you choose.
>
>
>
> One thing to note, however, again, is that only you will see your presonal
> ZNet top page. It is what will appear going to ZNet when you are logged in
> and you opt to toggle it on.
>
>
>
>
>
> (5) Personal ZSpace Top Page
>
>
>
> The logic of the overall ZSpace top page will be the same as above. There
> will be a universal one, like now, though much improved in ways that will be
> intimated below. But then you as a Sustainer will be able to edit what
> appears on a personal compendium ZSpace top page that you can see instead of
> or in addition to our version, if you opt for having a personal one, and if
> you toggle it on.
>
>
>
> For your personal ZSpace top page, you will choose the content and its
> arrangement, whether you want comments or blogs or preferences or pictures
> or your friends contents, etc. etc., and the menu links, and their
> arrangement, all technically just as described above for the ZNet Top Page.
> There will however, be, more things to display and highlight than now, due
> to other innovations.
>
>
>
> In other words, you will have not only our idea of a universal window on
> all accumulating ZSpace content - but also your version of what that should
> look like and include, as you decide, and alter, at your discretion.
>
>
>
>
>
> (6) Personal ZSpace Page
>
>
>
> Of course you will still have your own ZSpace page, which you set up but
> everyone sees when they click on your name, like now, but now it will be
> virtually entirely adaptable however you choose, with content that you want,
> links that you want, etc.
>
>
>
> What's more, there will be a massively improved ties to your online
> friends, providing ease of use and speed of response on the order of
> FaceBook's, with message boards and records, etc. etc., and overall with far
> more substance, of course.
>
>
>
>
>
> (7) New Forums / Chat / Messaging
>
>
>
> We are redoing the forums, chat, and messaging so that they will be
> entirely integrated in the overall system - rather than standing off to the
> side - and so that they will also have options to receive content by email,
> for you to reply by email, and for you to display your or your friends or
> any other posts and threads on your personal pages as you choose, among
> other innovations.
>
>
>
> Links to related forums will appear in appropriate places all over the
> site, not just when you go to a sequestered forums area, as will access to
> forum content. Comments will be commenting on any content and forums will be
> for extended discussions, debates, etc.
>
>
>
> Sustainers will also be able to create their own forums for display on your
> pages - as will groups - the last being a very important feature.
>
>
>
> Similarly we will have live chat and also instant message facilities, far
> more developed than we employed earlier, with easy use from anywhere...
> perhaps sound and vision, and with rooms for multiple people, with
> reminders, tracking visibility of online friends, etc.
>
>
>
>
>
> (8) Preferences
>
>
>
> The books, films, and sites preferences facilities are being redone and
> will generate lists of people's preferred content by the last day, week,
> month, and for all time.
>
>
>
> There will also be easy reviewing of content, easy access to comments and
> reviews, easy access to see who has tastes like yours, etc.
>
>
>
>
>
> (9) Groups / Projects / Networks / Organizations / Movements
>
>
>
> There will be lots more innovation, but this last one that I can summarize
> now is the one I have to admit, that I are most excited about.
>
>
>
> The idea is pretty simple - but the potential is enormous.
>
>
>
> Say you and a group of other people decide to form a collective page - just
> for a group of like minded folks, or perhaps for folks who wish to work
> together on some shared project, or maybe for folks who wish to join
> together into a network, or perhaps for members of an organization, or even
> for members of a movement.
>
>
>
> You create a group page, or you might call it a network page, for your
> collective of people.
>
>
>
> All the members of the group and only those members can post in the group
> blog. All the members of the group and only members of the group can operate
> in the group's forums. The groups can decide to allow people outside the
> group to see its blogs or forums, or not.
>
>
>
> There is easy email to and from everyone in the group to everyone else in
> the group, likewise for chat and messaging.
>
>
>
> The group can have its own top page for the group (using options
> technically just like the group's personal control of the znet top page to
> create this) - not just a self determined group ZSpace page, as now, but a
> page like the ZNet top page, but for the group, that everyone can see or
> not, as the group decides.
>
>
>
> In other words the group, project, team, organization - or whatever it is -
> gets the ability to very easily set up a web site with a tabbed menu system,
> a fancy left menu facility, and with easy quick edit control of all content
> and features - including colors, graphics, etc., and with chat, messaging,
> forums, and blog.
>
>
>
> In short, we will be providing any group that wants it, a site that if
> warranted can be as rich as ZCommunications to do with what they will. More,
> the content will not only stand alone, as it would if you built such a thing
> from scratch - but it will also appear within the Z system, thus getting
> major added visibility, etc.
>
>
>
> Your team/group/organization or whatever will have chat and instant
> messenger to facilitate intercommunication internally, but, as well, to aid
> collective creativity we will even have ways for you to collectively work on
> shared documents and projects. Communication among folks in your
> team/group/organization will be easy. Adding folks will be easy. Embedding
> content into your sites will be easy, and being embedded in others systems
> or creating amalgam systems, will be easy.
>
>
>
> We hope you can see the potential.
>
>
>
> Just as an example, suppose UFPJ decided to use this, or perhaps some left
> publisher, or maybe a consortium of publishers on the left, or perhaps a new
> organization, or maybe a group just wanting to create a new site, or a
> translated site, say - or whatever. They could have a site for each chapter
> plus a parent site for all chapters, or one for each of many organizations
> and a shared consortium site for all together, among many other
> possibilities, virtually overnight. Each would have a rich and flexible
> menuing system, easy maintenance, and would feature content of its members,
> blogs for its members, forums for its members - all visible more broadly or
> not, as preferred, etc. Each would facilitate discussion, exploration,
> debate, and even mutual work among the members, if desired, and would of
> course allow content display more widely and particularly to the larger Z
> community, if desired. We hope we can all together bring this type mutual
> aid and benefit to fruition. We hope movement groups and organizations,
> publishers, projects, teams of like minded folks, etc., will use the
> resources. It is an ambitious undertaking, but hopefully will come to pass
> just a little after all the rest that is mentioned above.
>
>
>
> So when will all this be in place?
>
>
>
> Well, we don't know precise timing and we have learned that programming is
> very very hard and unpredictable. You do it. you discover problems. You fix
> them, but then there are new ones to fix. You keep at it - and finally you
> have something viable that you can unveil, only to find more - though less
> debilitating problems to fix.
>
>
>
> We hope to have these innovations ready to unveil in early to mid summer.
> We hope to have what is described above all finished, by late summer or
> early fall - and to be off and running on adding much more innovation, as
> well.
>
>
>
>
>
> If you want to help us in all this - well, there are three big things to
> do.
>
>
>
> (1) Use the current facilities - which is to say please upload your picture
> and bio to ZSpace, please enter some preferences, and especially please
> begin using the blogs and commenting facilities if you haven't already. They
> have gotten quite busy, which is quite inspiring, but there is room for much
> more! In this way you can not only grow participation now, preparatory to a
> big jump when the new features are in place, but, truth be told, you can
> provide us the inspiration we need to keep on pushing forward.
>
>
>
> (2) We know economic times are very tough, or at the very least, very
> scary. But, nonetheless, if, but only if, you can possibly manage it, please
> consider upping your Sustainer Donation by one payment level, or by whatever
> amount you can manage. Even just $1 a month, say, will make a very big
> difference!
>
>
>
> (3) But most important, if and when you decide to begin tightening up your
> budget - please don't do it at the expense of your support for ZCom, or at
> the expense of your support for other progressive and left endeavors, for
> that matter. It would be an incredible irony and catch-22 - if, precisely
> when the corporate system implodes the anti corporate alternative should
> suffer also, rather than growing, as we need to.
>
>
>
> We hope you agree that the above is an exciting set of prospects...
>
>
>
> We thank you for your continuing support,
>
>
>
> Michael Albert
>
> For ZCom
>
>  Temporarily toggle off commentary and other Sustainer mailings.<http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/removeMailing/?account=NTgzNjQyczBubjR5>
>
> (You can turn them back on from your account page at any time. You will not
> lose permissions or other Sustainer benefits nor will this interrupt your
> donations.)
>
>  Terminate your Sustainer Account<http://www.zcommunications.org/admin/account/terminate/583642>
>
> (You will have to enter your password in the form that appears. Doing this
> will terminate your donations and permissions. To get new permissions and
> other features, you would have to rejoin later.)
>
> Visit your account page and make changes of any sort you may desire.<http://www.zcommunications.org/admin/account/view/583642>
>
> (You will have to enter your password in the field that appears.)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Imc-alternatives mailing list
> Imc-alternatives at lists.indymedia.org
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-alternatives
>
>


-- 
Josef Davies-Coates
07974 88 88 95
http://uniteddiversity.com
Together We Have Everything
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-alternatives/attachments/20090512/1fe32a11/attachment-0001.htm