Vision for Connect?
henning
July 23, 2007, 04:06 AM posted in General DiscussionInitially the Connect section was a waterfall of messages, often dragging even the most strongly paddling topics down into the abyss.
But as slowly new features grow interesting potential appears in the mist:
Connect might evolve into the perfect hybrid between
a) a Forum
b) a Collection of Blogs and
c) Commenting
Ending that old debate:
http://chinesepod.com/learnchinese/%e8%ae%ba%e5%9d%9bvs%e5%8d%9a%e5%ae%a2/
Just add
1) Search options (of course)
2) Categorization according to a preconceived hierarchical scheme (similar to the Forum categories)
3) Tagging
4) Rating
5) Markers for new posts
6) Editing
7) Smilies
If CPod makes it happen, one day maybe one day there will even be alternative presentation modes:
- The Forum mode, which groups posts in a standard-Forum way
- The Blog mode, which shows all conversations *initiated* by a user in a Blog-like environment
The Topic mode, which shows objects like lessons, "Extra" objects, grammar points and the respecive comments.
The perfect integration?
henning
July 23, 2007, 04:24 AMJohn, regarding hierarchy: For orientation and archival categorization & hierarchy is essential, especially if the number of subjects continues to grow. Just go through the old "Translation Challenge" in the Forum... Regarding No. 5: Sorry. I meant "New" in the sense of "Unread".
Lantian
July 23, 2007, 05:42 AMSIMPLICITY - I use this link the most these days. I only return to Connect for certain thread details at times. LINK URL for Chinesepod mobile All Conversations http://m.chinesepod.com/conversations/list/type/all
henning
July 23, 2007, 06:38 AMLantian, exactly. Different simple views on a complex, multi dimensional structure.
John
July 23, 2007, 04:11 AMHmmm... interesting ideas. I'm not convinced that adding complexity (in the form of tags, hierarchy, etc.) is always a good thing. I've got enough experience with blogs to know that tags are not always helpful. Hierarchy can also be an impediment when not needed. I agree with your numbers 1, 6, 7, (don't we already have #5), but I think we'll probably end up seeing where the developing system leads us with regards to the rest...