Calling for IceInSpace ideas/suggestions

iceman (Mike) · #1 31-03-2005, 07:36 AM

Hey guys.

It's time to get some feedback from you, the users of the site, on what you'd like to see improved, new features added, things you don't like, etc.

One of my motivations and goals is to integrate the site and forums a bit more.. At the moment, people will find the site or be linked to the site, have a look around, come to the forums, stay on the forums (good) but probably never go back to the main site. And that's expected if there's largely static information on the site.

So one of my aims is to have more content on the main site. That includes:

More upcoming events and event reports (need input and submissions from club/society secretaries)
More observatories and club/society listings (just need time to find all the details and add them)
More reviews of astro equipment/accessories. I need your submissions here, unless you can convince telescope shops to lend me stuff to review
Content in the "How-To" section, including the promised GS Dob FAQ, Astrophotography with a dob guide, as well as general how-to guides for lots of different things, such as mirror centre-spotting, making a hartman mask, etc. I need your ideas and submissions! Astronomy DIY'ers I need your input!
More astro news on the front page (just need more time to add them)

One of my other aims is to have some more dynamic/changing content on the site, to give more reasons to go back to the site and have it as an allround astronomy resource. Some ideas/potential features include:

IceInSpace Member Map (due for launch in about 2 weeks)
Integrated Sky Chart, linked to your forum profile which has your lat/long. Kind of like the S&T site interactive sky chart.
Satellite/iridium flare pass information.. A popup/flashing button will let you know when a bright ISS pass or iridium flare is going to pass over your location in the next 24 hours (for example), and you can click on it to see the details etc.
A dark observing site database with location, maps, instructions etc of observing sites around normal suburban locations (will need submissions from members).
Integrated Observing Plan generator, so you can plan a nights observing by picking objects from a database and creating/printing a list to take outside with you.
Integrated Observation Report database, where forum members can submit their own observing reports to be stored in the IceInSpace database. They'll be able to search for old reports, and if the member chooses to allow it, other people will be able to view your reports etc. Potentially, sketches can be uploaded etc.
A "What's in the sky this week" section, which lists and highlights the best objects to view this week, any special events such as occultations or conjunctions, best features to view on the moon given it's current phase, etc. Just needs time to write each week as it's not a 5 minute job.

Most of these are just ideas and thoughts at the moment, they may be technically difficult to implement so it may rule them out..

So i'm after your feedback and ideas on the above lists, and your suggestions on what you'd like to see on the site.

And for the forums, how can they be improved? How is the current breakdown of sub-forums? Should there be a split of sections or categories, more sections added, less sections? What other features would you like to see on the forums?

This site is for you and the amateur astronomy community down under in australasia, so I need your help and content submissions, ideas, suggestions and feedback to make it the best site it can be.

Thanks for your time. You can reply here with your feedback, or if you'd like to do it privately, just email me or send me a PM.

Thanks

gaa_ian (Ian) · #2 31-03-2005, 09:21 AM

Hi Mike
One Idea

Would it be possible to have an automatic subscription to threads that we reply to, or start ?
With the option of being able to switch off this auto reply in our profiles?
I don't know about others, but I tend to forget to subscribe to threads I have replied to or even created sometimes.
With the forum getting so busy now, it is hard to keep up with the number of new posts
Cheers
Ian

ving (David) · #3 31-03-2005, 10:21 AM

noooo!
sorry ian but I dont want to auto subscribe to threads. I had a bugger of a time once clearing out my email inbox because it was cluttered with iceinspace reply to thread emails

or I could switch it off....

iceman (Mike) · #4 31-03-2005, 10:31 AM

It would be optional if we implemented Ian's request.. you could turn it on/off in your profile.

ving (David) · #5 31-03-2005, 10:39 AM

a messier listing with photos and description.... why tell people to go elsewhere all the time?

Brendan · #6 31-03-2005, 10:50 AM

yes good idea ving, small addition though, make the images/description that which is trully seen at the EP. I think to many Noobs get discouraged when they see their first DSO and it doesn't look like a Malin Photo

ving (David) · #7 31-03-2005, 10:55 AM

true. where does one get pics of what can be seen thru an EP tho?

[1ponders] (Paul) · #8 31-03-2005, 11:31 AM

Mike now that we're heading for the gazzillion thread mark how about changing the search page for the non-boolian users with an advanced search option Something along the line of the google advanced search). Something with a more user friendly interface for refining searches. Or even a search within results link for refining.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #9 31-03-2005, 12:02 PM

Ving ... By "subscibed threads" I mean, being able to go to my profile & see if there are replies to the threads I am interested in or have created.
I would prefer not to get Emails everytime a get a reply to a thread either .. but i cant seem to make it stop!
I have set up a filter on my email to catch all those auto generated Emails, so they dont clutter up my inbox

ving (David) · #10 31-03-2005, 12:37 PM

ah! i see.

I am a bit slow at times...

acropolite (Phil) · #11 31-03-2005, 05:29 PM

Pick up new members by getting Bintel and other dealers to put a reference to Iceinspace in the introductory letter that they send out with new scopes. My letter only had a reference to Yahoo LX groups. I know that out of that shipment of 15 LX90's, 13 were pre-sold, 3 of which I know were to our members..... What about the other 11?

rowena · #12 31-03-2005, 11:15 PM

one thing with the forums being so active there is a lot of socialising (which is a great thing.. but trying to keep up with the amount of different threads is a bit mind boggling)

have you thought about introducing a web-based IRC (Internet Relay Chat) client, or web-based chat room.. where we can all talk IRL (in real life/time), instead of using the forums. we can still use the forums for general questions, interest areas, things to do/see etc, but then we can use the chat room to socialise. if you don't want to host it on ice-in-space, then we can create a room and use one of the australian IRC servers and use a IRC client such as MIRC or perch.. etc.

my 2c worth

rowena

acropolite (Phil) · #13 01-04-2005, 02:44 AM

Not a bad idea Rowena but it might be easier to use AOL or MSN messenger for most.

toetoe (Peter) · #14 01-04-2005, 10:52 AM

What about a abbreviation section under the forum headers for people who don`t know what they are when they read the post.
Eg: DSO, EP, GPS, FL, etc etc. It may be logical for some but be very confusing for others just starting in this hobby.

iceman (Mike) · #15 01-04-2005, 11:00 AM

Hey Peter, the Glossary section on the website (also linked in the Beginners Forum) is there to serve that purpose.

If you can think of other abbreviations/terms which should be added to the glossary, by all means let me know!

toetoe (Peter) · #16 01-04-2005, 11:05 AM

Bugger!! sometimes we forget about other sections on the site.

ving (David) · #17 01-04-2005, 03:14 PM

your such a forum user peter!

i visit the site once a fortnight to check it out or as needed

rowena · #18 01-04-2005, 05:11 PM

Phil,

can MSN do group chat?? I thought you could only do 1 on 1 chatting, and not as a group....

perhaps that may be the best way to go if you can do group chatting...and how do you do group chatting in MSN?

as for AOL.. i have never used AOL and I don't know how many people out there would of used it either? and again, can you do group chatting with that?

Striker (Tony) · #19 01-04-2005, 05:18 PM

Rowena they all have group chats......just go to the MSN website...I think it's under People and chat on the website....just browse what groups you want...or even start up your own Rowena group....

rowena · #20 01-04-2005, 05:40 PM

arr cool... all i have is the little icon of MSN. havent been to their home page!... i tend to hang on the australian undernet... which was basically how chatting first started in the early 90's. i just haven't moved off of it