Live Update of Thread When Posting (and general modernization)

**Bijo** · 08-14-2007, 23:23

Originally Posted by drone

When using the post editor, the posts in the thread are shown below (at least, they are in the RTW skin). If you write up a post, and then use the "Preview Post" button, you will not only see your post in all it's tagged glory, but the thread's posts will update accordingly below the editor. I usually preview before submitting, to proof-read my post as well as check for new submissions.

If that is true, that is at least... workable. But it would be tedious to press the button to preview, especially if one writes a long post (-- as I type now it would simply be tedious or bothersome to hit 'preview post' and I do not perform this action even if I know it is possible someone else has now already posted before this current is submitted). This limited option is not more efficient and useful than the suggestion of some sort of "live forum" -- a forum that is "alive", breathing, interactive, more graphical, etcetera.

(The purpose of 'preview' is to preview your post (and it actually does not at all clearly resembles your finalized post when submission is performed).)

A version of the forum in which the "live interactivity mode" is actived would be splendid, and a version that is as it is now. The option could reside in the User CP where options are controlled.

I wouldn't mind some form of RSS feed mechanism, but I don't know how much effort or bandwidth that would take.

RSS?

**drone** · 08-14-2007, 23:49

Originally Posted by Bijo

RSS?

Really Simple Syndication

For me, really long posts are exactly what the Preview Post button is for. I usually make more grammar, syntax or spelling errors in long posts, the preview lets me read it all in post format to see how it comes across. It also gives me a second chance to rethink the post altogether (is it necessary, is it spam, is it pushing the boundaries of the forum rules, etc.). Also, since writing long posts takes longer, the preview allows you to see posts that come in while the "novel" was being written.

Having a live forum mode would require a shift from browser-side "requested data" to server-side "pushed data". I'm pretty sure this is not a trivial task, from either a programming or bandwidth standpoint.

**sapi** · 08-15-2007, 04:53

Well, I wouldn't mind seeing things go completely web2.0 with AJAX; but that's something that has to be built into the vB core, and isn't really something that can be edited at will by the admins here.

A huge

to flash and sound by me, too

**Bijo** · 08-15-2007, 11:35

Originally Posted by sapi

Well, I wouldn't mind seeing things go completely web2.0 with AJAX; but that's something that has to be built into the vB core, and isn't really something that can be edited at will by the admins here.

Ah! Web 2.0 and Ajax: I am hardly familiar with them but I generally see they more or less resemble what I meant by my idea

(if I have read and understood the information on it correctly)

A huge

to flash and sound by me, too

What if there would be an option to activate/deactivate sound notifications and Flash? Such options would serve both sides who like/dislike them.

**Togakure** · 08-15-2007, 15:43

I vote no Flash, no sound. Cost-Benefit must be considered in evolving software--increased functionality and end-user benefit versus cost in time to develop (to my knowledge, no one's getting paid to develop this forum ...) and degree of difficulty. Risk must also be considered--and Flash is a security risk. Sound is invasive, and if it's ever added as a feature, it should be completely optional and not the default.

This forum works very nicely in my opinion. Bells and whistles as described--represented as "modernization"--remind me of trends in today's popular games and movies--much superficial glitz, no significant value added--some even subtracted from my point of view. My so-called "bell curve phenomenon" is poignantly demonstrated, as the general population sadly seems to prefer such things.

**Bijo** · 08-15-2007, 16:08

For the sake of clarity to me and others who know little of it here is what Ajax is. Fascinating.

And here is Web 2.0. Fascinating.

[QUOTE=Masamune]
[...]Bells and whistles as described--represented as "modernization"--remind me of trends in today's popular games and movies--much superficial glitz, no significant value added--[...]
You would find that my reasoning in the opening posts and the information recently provided in this post would contradict this statement ;)

**Husar** · 08-15-2007, 17:04

Yes, we definitely need more social networking and other Web 2.0 features here. If I look at a user's profile I want to see the cheapest flights to his/her town or the shortest way by car or anything. Then people will also be more polite in the Backroom.

Also we need some place where ogahs can find a partner for their life, the .org geek marriage center or something, I certainly wouldn't use it, but it's modern.
And maybe a marketplace where we can sell old computer parts to the highest bidder, or maybe CD keys. And i want to see the weather forecast on every page of the forum, including a newsreader voice that will read my RSS feeds to me(good thing I don't have any), alternatively the voice could just read the folder structure of the primary partition or something.

Ok, that's all I can think of now, tomorrow, when Tosa has finished these, I can add more.

**Togakure** · 08-15-2007, 18:37

[QUOTE=Bijo]For the sake of clarity to me and others who know little of it here is what Ajax is. Fascinating.

And here is Web 2.0. Fascinating.

Originally Posted by Masamune

[...]Bells and whistles as described--represented as "modernization"--remind me of trends in today's popular games and movies--much superficial glitz, no significant value added--[...]
You would find that my reasoning in the opening posts and the information recently provided in this post would contradict this statement ;)

I did read your post, understood what you were driving at despite the difficulty I have translating your choice and arrangement of words, and my opinion is indeed contrary to yours. There is no "contradiction" in my statement as I see it. From my point of view, your choice of diction demonstrates the very tendency towards pomp and attempted flashiness that your suggestions for the forums advocate. ;) Then again, perhaps it is simply because you do not live in a region where proper English is actually spoken regularly, and have been "over-schooled" in written English and vocabulary. This is not meant to be an insult, merely an observation/feedback--from someone who takes his English and written communication fairly seriously.