Cable Forum
19-10-2003, 17:19
ntli.info - RFC
Status of this Memo
This document specifies the nthellworld.co.uk team's proposal for the website ntli.info, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Objectives
3. Site Structure
4. Processes - Team working
5. Process - Information Gathering and Entry
6. Process - Team Recruitment
7. Copyright
8. Closing
1. Introduction
It has long been the idea of the admins of this site to expand it to become more than a support forum. We registered the domain ntli.info a while ago with the view to developing it into an informational based website, along the lines of a knowledgebase or groupware application.
Spurred by the recent influx of users from the collapsing nthellworld.com, we feel that now is a good time to make this idea a reality. We propose to have a public RFC on ntli.info using the nthw forum.
The purpose of this RFC process and document is to attempt to define how this will work in conjunction with the visitors to this website.
2. Objectives
The objectives of ntli.info are to create a website which:
is a collaborative effort is diverse and complete in subject matter (according to the needs of visitors) is up-to-date is clear and concise is technically correct can be understood by all technical level's (within reason) is managed by the visitor's to the site serves as a useful resource to ntl customers, where ntl simply do not provide the information themselves3. Site Structure
We propose to have the site divided up into a structure such as the one below:
Internet Broadband Dial-up General usage XBox Live PS2 Online Security Networking
Digital Television Analogue Television Telephony Billing Installation Windows ProductivityThe articles will be written and filed into the relevant category. The facility to subdivide and reorganise articles and categories as and when the content requires it will of course be available. A fully refined search procedure will be included in the website to allow visitors to search any or all categories for the search string.
On the front page, lists of articles will be displayed, ordered by:
Most Views Newest ArticlesWe feel this will get the important articles to the site visitors in an effective way. The facility to order articles by the following categories will also be available.
Most E-mailed Most Printed Most Viewed Most Saved4. Processes - Team working
We propose to create a team of volunteer editors for ntli.info, each an expert or very competent in their particular area. These people will be tasked with adding new content to the site as and when required, or when it is available.
A public list of editors (Pseudonyms acceptable) will be available on nthellworld.co.uk, with a listing of which categor(y/ies) they are an editor of.
These editors will also have accounts on ntli.info to add articles to their respective sections. Each editor will get credit for the articles they have written, with their name being shown at the top of the article, and a list of articles written displayed in their profile on ntli.info.
We propose to set up a mailing list for ntli.info editors for the discussion and facilitation of the project, with all editors expected to join the administration mailing list, which we envisage will be relatively low volume after the initial setup.
5. Process - Information Gathering and Entry
We propose to build ntli.info up from scratch. Those who are accepted to join the editorial team will be free to work as hard as they like in writing articles for the website. It is a "as-much" or "as-little" project as you like, as we appreciate that individuals have differing amounts of free time.
Visitors to ntli.info will have the facility to ask a question on a topic which is not on the website or cannot be found via searching. This will be done by way of a web-based form, which we propose to have directed to a slightly higher volume Editors Questions mailing list. An editor can then pick this question up (reply to mailing list saying they have taken ownership) and write an article if it possible.
We openly accept that the information will not be 100% correct in a project such as this, but will of course strive for accuracy. We believe that the facility to give feedback on each article (e.g. http://uk.php.net/) is important. Visitors to the site will therefore be able to comment articles or point out mistakes, which we will then aim to rectify.
Visitors will of course at any time be able to start a discussion on any point of ntli.info in the Site Feeback forum on this website, or contact the nthw team directly via the e-mail form.
Editors will agree to write articles in the simplest language and terms possible, with technical words and processes explained in laymans terms. We recognise this will not always be possible due the level of the article (e.g. using iptables in linux compared to creating a new DUN connection).
6. Process - Team Recruitment
Initially, we only have a small team which consists of the more technical members of the existing nthw team. We have been reading with great interest the thread created by Nemesis called "A new focus for .co.uk ?? (http://forum.nthellworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3454)" In there, we see many existing users who we feel it would great to get on board.
However, quality and correctness of information is a very important part of this project, and so probably not everyone who applies will be accepted. Those people who are interested in applying to be an editor should apply via the e-mail form (http://www.nthellworld.co.uk/?page=contact), stating why they think they would be suitable, what relevant experence they have, their forum user name, and what categories they think they would be suitable to edit.
We appreciate that this may be a long winded process, but we want ntli.info to be a useful source of information, with as much correct and concise information as possible.
7. Copyright
The article author will retain copyright of the article, and will give full permission to the nthellworld.co.uk for usage and modification under the ntli.info Terms and Conditions [To be expanded - As long as financial gain is not made from the site then use is automatically granted. If the site generates revenue (above and beyond recouping hosting charges) then such use is not automatic.]
8. Closing
We request open and honest discussion of the ideas proposed above. We are going to actively involve our users, unlike ntl involve their customers.
Please post sensible and constructive posts. Any off topic posts will be deleted from this thread.
This RFC process will end next weekend on Saturday, so please get your comments, suggestions, and viewpoints in by then.
Status of this Memo
This document specifies the nthellworld.co.uk team's proposal for the website ntli.info, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Objectives
3. Site Structure
4. Processes - Team working
5. Process - Information Gathering and Entry
6. Process - Team Recruitment
7. Copyright
8. Closing
1. Introduction
It has long been the idea of the admins of this site to expand it to become more than a support forum. We registered the domain ntli.info a while ago with the view to developing it into an informational based website, along the lines of a knowledgebase or groupware application.
Spurred by the recent influx of users from the collapsing nthellworld.com, we feel that now is a good time to make this idea a reality. We propose to have a public RFC on ntli.info using the nthw forum.
The purpose of this RFC process and document is to attempt to define how this will work in conjunction with the visitors to this website.
2. Objectives
The objectives of ntli.info are to create a website which:
is a collaborative effort is diverse and complete in subject matter (according to the needs of visitors) is up-to-date is clear and concise is technically correct can be understood by all technical level's (within reason) is managed by the visitor's to the site serves as a useful resource to ntl customers, where ntl simply do not provide the information themselves3. Site Structure
We propose to have the site divided up into a structure such as the one below:
Internet Broadband Dial-up General usage XBox Live PS2 Online Security Networking
Digital Television Analogue Television Telephony Billing Installation Windows ProductivityThe articles will be written and filed into the relevant category. The facility to subdivide and reorganise articles and categories as and when the content requires it will of course be available. A fully refined search procedure will be included in the website to allow visitors to search any or all categories for the search string.
On the front page, lists of articles will be displayed, ordered by:
Most Views Newest ArticlesWe feel this will get the important articles to the site visitors in an effective way. The facility to order articles by the following categories will also be available.
Most E-mailed Most Printed Most Viewed Most Saved4. Processes - Team working
We propose to create a team of volunteer editors for ntli.info, each an expert or very competent in their particular area. These people will be tasked with adding new content to the site as and when required, or when it is available.
A public list of editors (Pseudonyms acceptable) will be available on nthellworld.co.uk, with a listing of which categor(y/ies) they are an editor of.
These editors will also have accounts on ntli.info to add articles to their respective sections. Each editor will get credit for the articles they have written, with their name being shown at the top of the article, and a list of articles written displayed in their profile on ntli.info.
We propose to set up a mailing list for ntli.info editors for the discussion and facilitation of the project, with all editors expected to join the administration mailing list, which we envisage will be relatively low volume after the initial setup.
5. Process - Information Gathering and Entry
We propose to build ntli.info up from scratch. Those who are accepted to join the editorial team will be free to work as hard as they like in writing articles for the website. It is a "as-much" or "as-little" project as you like, as we appreciate that individuals have differing amounts of free time.
Visitors to ntli.info will have the facility to ask a question on a topic which is not on the website or cannot be found via searching. This will be done by way of a web-based form, which we propose to have directed to a slightly higher volume Editors Questions mailing list. An editor can then pick this question up (reply to mailing list saying they have taken ownership) and write an article if it possible.
We openly accept that the information will not be 100% correct in a project such as this, but will of course strive for accuracy. We believe that the facility to give feedback on each article (e.g. http://uk.php.net/) is important. Visitors to the site will therefore be able to comment articles or point out mistakes, which we will then aim to rectify.
Visitors will of course at any time be able to start a discussion on any point of ntli.info in the Site Feeback forum on this website, or contact the nthw team directly via the e-mail form.
Editors will agree to write articles in the simplest language and terms possible, with technical words and processes explained in laymans terms. We recognise this will not always be possible due the level of the article (e.g. using iptables in linux compared to creating a new DUN connection).
6. Process - Team Recruitment
Initially, we only have a small team which consists of the more technical members of the existing nthw team. We have been reading with great interest the thread created by Nemesis called "A new focus for .co.uk ?? (http://forum.nthellworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3454)" In there, we see many existing users who we feel it would great to get on board.
However, quality and correctness of information is a very important part of this project, and so probably not everyone who applies will be accepted. Those people who are interested in applying to be an editor should apply via the e-mail form (http://www.nthellworld.co.uk/?page=contact), stating why they think they would be suitable, what relevant experence they have, their forum user name, and what categories they think they would be suitable to edit.
We appreciate that this may be a long winded process, but we want ntli.info to be a useful source of information, with as much correct and concise information as possible.
7. Copyright
The article author will retain copyright of the article, and will give full permission to the nthellworld.co.uk for usage and modification under the ntli.info Terms and Conditions [To be expanded - As long as financial gain is not made from the site then use is automatically granted. If the site generates revenue (above and beyond recouping hosting charges) then such use is not automatic.]
8. Closing
We request open and honest discussion of the ideas proposed above. We are going to actively involve our users, unlike ntl involve their customers.
Please post sensible and constructive posts. Any off topic posts will be deleted from this thread.
This RFC process will end next weekend on Saturday, so please get your comments, suggestions, and viewpoints in by then.