Hi Chris,
Thanks for the feedback. I really like some of the points you have
raised.
I think there might be some confusion out there about what I am
trying to achieve here. Let me make one thing clear to everyone - I
am trying to get people to think of ways that we can better what we
currently have here, not destroy it. I have the future in mind, and
I am not suggesting that we do anything with the current website
right now, but we at least think about what could be done in the
future. I do not profess to have all of the answers, but I would
like to encourage people to be a little more open minded on the
topic. Just treat it like a 'what if' for now if you like, and
don't get to concerned about losing what you have. Believe me, if
it ever came down to any potential to lose what we have here, then
I would not support it.
And with all that in mind, here are my responses:
Many, most, questions on Birding-Aus have an answer that quickly
gets out of date.
I for one don’t mind a refresh of “How do I get into Werribee
WTP†or similar now & again.
I couldn't agree more, which is why a wiki system that can be
updated constantly by users would be a great way to go. The BOCA
website has gone some way to providing information on sites that
can be accessed by a map. It's a good start, but would benefit by
being able to be updated regularly and by users.
Yes, resistance to change is based on what is best for me.
It is also based on my experience with other groups I have
subscribed to have changed format, undergone a clumsy transition
process & at the end effectively offer me no more usefulness than I
had before.
Excellent point here. This is a risk, and I appreciate and have
fully factored that in. It appears that just because someone
suggests an idea regarding this or other websites that there is an
instant assumption that they approach with a nieve view that doesnt
consider current users. I would like to highlight that any changes
or suggested improvements should be done through consultation with
users so we can minimise or eliminate that risk. I am finding this
very difficult to get across.
Yes these are what professional developers keep their eye on.
However this site is for the birding users & ‘hits’ per se is
not a relevant criteria for usefulness.
I totally disagree. Just because it is a website for birders does
not in the slightest mean that we cannot take a professional
approach and try to follow sound design principles. By doing so
will only enrich the experience of all, and encourage new users to
become involved.
When I do an archive search I may see a last century format but I
get what I was looking for.
Knowing that you can get what you are looking for is not a
measurable criteria. I too know that I can do a search and get what
I want, just as I can with google or any other search engine, but
the question is how quickly? How easily? How much do you have to
sift through and read before you get what you want? You will lose
half of your audience if the answer doesn't show up in the first
three results.
People with a birding interest but little Web experience that I
have introduced to the site seem to get it & use it without problems.
Did you introduce them and show them what to do? Great if you did,
but what about considering the people who look up birding in
Australia on a search engine, and then make their way to the page?
Yes, the site is usable, but it is not overly intuitive. Not all
users of this website are the people who post all the time. Refer
to my suggestion about usage stats that would go a long way to
assisting here.
There are plenty of websites more ‘modern’ than Birding-Aus. I
use Birding-Aus in preference to these. BA may have a couple of
hundred regular posters. If it had several thousand then the email
subscription would be useless to me.
Precisely, which is why it is obsolete to meet the needs of the
future. Do we not want the birding community to grow? Do we not
want more people involved here?
Regards,
Luke
Regards, Chris Charles
On Wed Jan 27 20:45 , Luke Shelley sent:
Good, positive, suggestion Clair.
Birding-Aus is a wonderful resource for information on birding...
BUT
--
Luke
