Suggestions

michaeloconnell wrote:

5. If anyone has a suggestion, let us know. If we think it's a good idea, we will try to implement it.

(don't take this personally Mike! )

OK, I have a few suggestions but let me first say this.
When the site changed over to the new format I just got stuck in
and said to myself,
'ok, it's different, the sections are sparse, a little confusing to use but, let's give it time, I'm sure it will grow and become great'

At first there were a lot of people posting about 'change it back'
or 'I don't like this or that'.
I remember having a chat with Mike and it was said that once the changeover was
made there was no going back to anything so we had to make it the best we can.
The IFAS council had made their decision and we have to respect that.

Ok. Grand.

So I sat back for a while and looked at the site objectively.
Then I put up a few posts suggesting certain things,
specifically about 'layout' and 'site sections'
NOT because I PERSONALLY didn't LIKE them -
it was because I felt my suggestions might make the site better,
more user friendly for everyone.
Simple things like;
- Having a welcome note at the top of the main page that stays at the top
ensuring first time visitors were welcomed and knew what the site was about.
- Making sure the page expands to suit all browsers
(there is a lot of talk about suiting things for dial up users,
well, you have to cater for monitor sizes as well!)
Other suggestions such as background colours, main menu sections etc. etc.

TBH - I did feel that my suggestions were being taken as COMPLAINTS.
e.g
michaeloconnell wrote:

I think there is a bit of confusion on a number of fronts here:

1. The front page was re-organised as some people complained that it was dis-organised

I was not (and am not) complaining.
I was simply point out things whith the site that I thought
could be improved or changed for the betterment of
the site and the ultimate success of it.
We were after all ASKED for our feedback.
But as I say, I genuinely felt that it was being perceived
as complaining.

I found myself in the end prefacing posts with
'now I don't want to offend the web team'
or
'please don't take this the wrong way I know ye do this
on your own time' etc.
So, I basically just gave up and just shut my mouth.

Fast forward to now and well,
the site has been up (in terms of the internet)
for a long time now and there are still issues that seem to
be bieng ignored.
The biggest one is the fall off of users.
There is a thread going at the moment debating the
'success or failure' of the site and I have stayed out of it.
Not because I dont think John had a point in starting it or
discussing it but I just think that if you post something in
it other than saying 'the IFAS site is brilliant!' then
you are going to be seen as being negative and a complainer.

So,
I've decided to just list out a few things here that
I personally think might need to be looked at or worked on.
I'm hoping it's seen as a productive thing.


LAYOUT.
I cannot stress just how important layout is when it comes to
a main page on a website.
Hopefully these suggestions might help.

At the top of the page there is this;
''IFAS - Home of Irish Astronomy.''
It does not need to be there.
Thats where the Welcome note should be but sometimes slips down the line on the main page.
I think it should always be at the top. Always.
It's there for first time visitors to understand what the site is about.
If you wanted you could put ''IFAS - Home of Irish Astronomy.''
into the banner logo at the very top.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I would suggest ONE news bit possibly two on the main page under the welcome note.
Obviously the most current one.
Then put all the other news bits eg:

IYA 2009
100 Hours of Astronomy
IFAS Astronomer Of The Year 2008
Into the NEWS section

and as the last line of the current news bite on the main page
say - For more on this and other IFAS news click the IFAS NEWS section to the left.
This way the news month on month is recorded in it's own section
and it looks active!
At the moment it is just showing links to outside sites.
I would also suggest you change it to 'IFAS NEWS'.

This would accomplish TWO things.
It would bring make the main page more compact and
make the 'Latest Posts from Forum' , 'Latest Images' & 'Weather'
rise up on the page and be seen.
It would also make the NEWS section active and maybe more people
would begin clicking into the other sections also then.

I would also be great to have reports & photos put into the IFAS NEWS
section about the IYA & 100 hours events as they come in!
Again - much of that can be lifted from the posts on the main boards.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


The main menu section should be listed in order of
importance & usage.
EG:

HOME
FORUM
IFAS NEWS
IFAS CLUBS & MAPS
ARTICLES
SEARCH
LINKS
IFAS COUNCIL
IFAS CONSTITUTION

As for the sections that are clickable but dead
eg:
Articles
then it really is up to the web team to upload as much as they
can from the main boards to this section to get the ball rolling.
eg - there are several walkthrus on the main messageboards about
astrophotography but none in the Articles section.
Put some of them in there.
If after an allotted time nobody uses them - GET RID of the section!
You cant use the mantra 'it's up to the users to fill them'
If they DON'T fill or use them then GET RID OF THEM!
Empty, scarce or dead sections in main links from the main page
only serve to make the site look unused and out of date.
Those sections have been up there for ages and nobody really uses them.
If the webteam want to keep them then they will have to make sure
they are filled and updated.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As a suggestion for a main section
in the
HOME
FORUM
IFAS NEWS
IFAS CLUBS & MAPS
Etc
Would be
WEATHER SECTION

the weather is of major importance to us astronomers here in Ireland.
I constantly check several weather sites daily.
If you had a page that had different weather outputs
such as jet stream isobars wind etc on it
all in one place and all tailored for the astronomer
it would be a great resource.
Something like
www.ihpa.ie

Now,
I have not got a clue if a page like that is possible
but I think it would be great.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Another section for the main links could be
COMPETITIONS

and in there have the IFAS astrophotography cmp each month.
OR
even if the link just too k you to the comp section on the boards
it would be a start.
Lots of people want it back - why not give them what they want!?
It would also showcase the unreal talent that is out there at the moment
and be a real feather in the IFAS cap!
Lets use the resources available to us!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I don't post images any more into the threads as firstly
when I try to I get errors and secondly
I feel the web team would prefer us not to.
I'm not a fan of outside links unless they are absolutely necessary.
I personally think images embedded in a thread make it more
alive and it flows better and again user friendly.
Yes I am biased BUT the astrophotography section is and has been
the most active section on the messageboards so we really should
cater to this as best we can

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


I think that's enough feedback for now
:woohoo:

Remember they are just suggestions!

OK, this will take a bit of time to go through Frank. I'm getting a cuppa tea now and sitting down to read this.
I'll come back and answer each of your points one by one.
Thanks,
Michael.

Mike,
might I suggest
(I know this may sound a little silly but
it might help to see each point a little clearer)

Print off a screen grab of the main page,
the whole lot of it from top to bottom.
Mark the bit you can see in your monitor with
a black line (to represent the screen area)
then look at each of the points I'm making,
maybe even use a pencil / highlighter to scribble in or
mark the areas I'm talking about.

Sometimes it helps to 'storyboard' the screen physical.
Rather than just clicking back and forth through the site.

Just a thought.
I often do this when I'm designing sites
or updating old ones.
Literally cutting and pasting.

Just going through the menu now Frank.
Where would you put the Calendar?
Would you still leave a link in the Main Menu?
If so, what priority?
Thanks,
Michael.

You know something that struck me. One thing that is lacking (and always has been) is detailed tutorial articles about the various aspects of our hobby. Crossed my mind that although there are a couple, there are not nearly enough. So perhaps it's time for all of us to get up off our BS and do something about it.


This is something which draws people to the site and might just keep a few more.

Of course I'll volunteer to write an article or two if a couple more of ye take up the gauntlet too.

At the top of the page there is this;
''IFAS - Home of Irish Astronomy.''
It does not need to be there.

Yes, I can see your point.
I have trawled through a load of settings, but for some reason, that text seems difficult to find. My knowledge of all this is a bit limited though so I will keep looking.
Moving on to next item now but will come back to this.
Michael.