[Radiance-general] knowledge platform

[Martin Moeck]

Can we find 40 members to contribute $40 each? 
 
Martin

________________________________

From: radiance-general-bounces at radiance-online.org on behalf of Gregory J. Ward
Sent: Fri 5/5/2006 11:44 AM
To: Radiance general discussion
Subject: Re: [Radiance-general] knowledge platform



Axel has some key points here, which bear repeating:

> Our experience in LEARN show (and this is also what CMS/Wiki gurus out
> there on the big 'Net have to say) that CMS systems will only work 
> if and only if:
> - there is an existing resource
> - the admin of this resource gets so many requests for updates and 
> additions that it is more than he/she can handle

This relates to an existing resource that someone is charged with 
maintaining, and is looking for an easier way to do so.  In other 
words, there is an active source of information that people have come 
to rely on, and it is in everyone's interest to maintain it.

In the case of Radiance, we are fortunate to have an active user 
community, but no one here has a wealth of time to devote to side 
activities that may or may not benefit others.  A Wiki or any set of 
maintained web pages that require substantial effort to put together 
is similar to a public mural.  Other than the satisfaction you get 
from participating in the assemblage, there is no motivation to 
maintain the work other than personal pride as leisure allows.  A 
mural deteriorates unless there is an active community caring for it.

The problem with a Wiki is that no one knows if pages they create are 
being read or by whom, and even if they knew, they would have no 
feedback as to how helpful the material is, how to improve it for 
others, or whether they are simply wasting their time.  The feedback 
mechanisms are lacking, unlike a mailing list, where when you post, 
others (usually) respond.

I see similar problems with resource pages using Plone.  Other than 
moderated access, it sounds a lot like a Wiki to me.  What would 
motivate volunteers to be responsible for particular topics?  What is 
to keep them from losing interest in short order?  I like the notion 
of having experts in particular domains, but there needs to be some 
benefit corresponding to the level of effort required.  It also seems 
like a lot of work up front.

If we get a line up of volunteers and some momentum in this 
direction, $1.4K plus a few hundred for a new motherboard seems very 
little to ask to get this going.  I'm sure I could wrangle that out 
of unnamed sources without too much difficulty.  It's just a question 
of convincing everyone to participate.  I would be more convinced 
myself if there was some feedback mechanism involved, Radiance 
dollars or some nonsense that benefactors of information on the sites 
would donate to maintainers, who could use them to subsidize their 
next workshop attendance(??).

We're bright people.  I'm sure we can figure out something that would 
work!

-Greg

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