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Development of site

Future software development for GTR

The following is for discussion on the future site development plans

Our current CMS is an adaptation so it was never going to be a perfect match. Therefore if I can explain what we need to aim for maybe it will inspire you with some ideas. As you probably know PHP is similar to Pearl some of the coding is the same. I think its time that we start again from scratch software wise. Maybe we have to think again and design a site structure for the future as there are limitations with the current cms software.

What I am hoping to see and achieve:

a) A more efficient web site that is easy to navigate for information, that is required – Index system is a high priority, since search systems are actually not locating information that easy
b) I would like to know who are our visitors and members their profiles sadly are poorly supported. How often do they come to the site and which content interests them. What are they not finding or getting from the site.
c) I would like to see progress and since visitors are not going to pay for access and maybe we could set up a system where we reward access if they complete a series of test questions to establish their knowledge and understanding and if you like they can be given stars or token rewards for contributions or even for regularly visiting the site. If GTR is a community we need leaders and members need to vote for them. Maybe we should be moving towards a game plan where we have 100% contributions.
d) Our main purpose is to provide the information they are not getting at school or college we need to see development and individuals reaching aims and objectives
e) We also need to introduce new methods of delivery using games.

So what about the scripting? We need a carefully laid out plan so that we don’t waste time and get things wrong. We also need to understand how the site has been operating and what are its weak points and areas of improvements that are needed.
Designing from scratch is difficult and if I had the time that is what I would do. If I can delegate more maybe we could see things done faster.

So far we have individuals that come under these groupings: Guest & Member It would beneficial to recognise further groups within the members list

1) New visitor –
2) The registered member – one off surfer
3) The regular member (observer only status) -
4) The active member who takes part in the GTR community forums, personals, publishes articles, polls etc
5) Committed members who become forum monitors, helpline staff and other department’s software development to design and research etc.

Ideally we need to encourage visitors not just to join and register but get involved and their contribution rewarded with even some sort of point system. E.g. for each year a member is given a colour stripe/marker on their profile or for the number of posts they make in the forum or how many tests they complete and pass. This is a sort of game if you like and at the end they can see what they have achieved. This is something we have to consider with the script design. Once a member has completed all the mental and emotional maturity and knowledge tests they can be promoted to the next level of the site an older version of the site if you like. We have members that have been with us from the beginning and they must be over 19 now. So what happens when they are over 19 do we close the door or do we get them to really work and help us out.

So back to the scripting as I have explained its knowing what our limits are and how we can push these boundaries in the future.

Therefore we have a registrations process for access and that we have automatic monitoring in place those who take part will have a clear guideline for everyone to work too.
Each members profile displays statistics. The time they are most likely to be logged onto the site. What pages they look at the most. How many times have they visited the site and how long have they spent at the site etc. This will give us some sort of picture of what our target audience is and if our content is appropriate for their age and maturity.

We are now talking increasing interaction where members can no longer observe only to benefit other areas of the site. Lets take the personals before someone is allowed to post an add until they can prove that they are prepared and have some basic social skills and safety and safer sex knowledge before they start actively seeking sexual partners online.

This would be a fantastic opportunity to get them clued up on the basics of safety and welfare. This is better than nothing at all. At least we have educated them more than what their parents and school has.

If their profile is not complete they are not allowed to enter the site. Or if they have not passed their entrance tests they would not be allowed full permission status.

When they register we need to obtain from them information that we can market and target their needs more effectively their age, experience, background and reasons for joining. If you like a mini survey would at least help us get to know our members more this information can be private or public but they will be given options as much as possible. The only methods we have in keeping touch with members are through our monthly newsletter where we need to give them an option to subscribe or opt out. We do however need to contact them periodically to see if they are ok but most importantly any information that is urgent. One issue is that the majority will use free web mail like hotmail and if we get a bounce mail back we need to be able to suspend accounts if users are inactive or don't wish for any more contact. Therefore we do need both email addresses and at least a way we can keep our membership accounts up to date.

Take gaydar.co.uk for example uses a clever system on their profiles where visitors can provide positive feedback with a click of a button. Their clever searches for locating local member’s profiles would also be benefit. Therefore GTR needs to be more flexible and more efficient in making things work for its members.

So where do we start?

Visitor validation
At present we have email validation in place where we send a key pass to the quest when they register. This will unlock their status from guest to member. If a guest submits a wrong or incorrect email they will be locked out and unable to be members. Therefore the next issue is to deal with bounce mail. In the future we need to process bounce mail so that accounts are suspended. We may have to ban hotmail email accounts unless we can find a solution.

Validation of age
If a visitor enters the site and registers as 13 years old when they are really 9 or a 16 year old try’s to enter at 19 years old it would be better to run a series of tests for the visitor to take than to rely on the age they use. If we are looking for progression we need to make sure we are not delivering content to early or late.

Therefore we could use maturity, reading and knowledge tests to help us achieve a closer physical age. So a visitor may use 13 but the tests will display a mental, emotional maturity result that is different. This would resolve the issue but it may not be 100% accurate.

Relevant information asked for private and public. Not all information about the user should be public and only to serve its purpose of directing suitable content their way.
E.g. what’s the point presenting language content in German to English only users? Like wise those who are under 16 may require easier reading styles or new methods to get the message across.

In the future we should be able to achieve some important changes to the site. It is therefore important that members comment on this and maybe suggest easier methods in helping us achieve the aim and objects.

Our aim is to help and support young people with the correct information and to provide options if there are any so that members can make informed choices. If we can also include addressing sexually transmitted infections and safer alternatives we have achieved something. Getting the planning, functions and results right in the scripting will only help and improve and take away stress for teens.

The software tasks
1) Visitor gets a preview of the site or overview on the benefits of membership
2) The visitor registers and a basic questionnaire provided. Results displayed in members list Profile completed if not reminded every time they revisit
3) Site Exit questionnaire with the option to close their account, feedback comment, content request etc.
4) Returning member receives 2nd questionnaire or option to take a short knowledge and understand test
5) To use the forum a member reads the forum rules and conditions
6) To use personals a member must pass the short knowledge and understand test to post their ad. Personals are only available to view by members who have completed their own profile ad. Members may only respond to other members ads if they have completed their profile and passed part 1 & 2 of the short knowledge and understand test
7) For every local news or article they submit and gets published they are rewarded a points from a scale of 1 to 3. It they visit the site once a week they also receive a point. For each year of membership a colour stripe is added to their membership profile and personal profile. The points system could be totalled each month the more articles you read the more points you will collect. There will be double points for polls and stars for recommending friends to the site. There will also be a series of tests available and passes will be rewarded with other symbols.
8) Members can suspend or edit their accounts, make their profiles private or public
9) Chat room is only available to members.
10) Newsletter is sent bimonthly to members email address and if bounced their access account is suspended until they reactivate their account with a different email address. This new email address must also be validated. All private email addresses are spam protected.
11) When a returning member enters the site other online members can be private messaged with a window pop up.
12) The personals will notify a matching profile to a member by email or internal mail.
13) The member list will display who’s on line and auto search results by location and age.