QUESTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY - HOW ABOUT JOOMLA CONTENT MGMT SYSTEM?

[rumel]

I have read many of the suggestions offered by other members of this forum and concur with most of their suggestions. I would like to add a few of my own for consideration. I’m a very visually oriented person, being an architect and graphic designer I’m perhaps overly sensitive and analytical about how information is graphically presented. Upon trying to navigate this site I was very frustrated with the difficulties I was having. Once I found out that I needed to have “cookies” enabled I no longer had to re-login to each page to view and enter information but I still haven’t found where that necessary requirement is stated anywhere. As I continue to learn about the various features and structure of this site, it occurs to me there are some easily accomplished items which would make the site more user friendly.

Suggestion #1 – Create a user HELP page, and put the button right on the top menu bar. This page(s) should include all the requirements for user setup, should include descriptions and uses of all the major site attributes, this could also contain the FAQ items or at the very least a link to them.

Suggestion #2 – Appropriately organize and prioritize the presentation of information. This means moving the menu bar box to the top of every page. All the verbiage that currently sits atop each page is not the most important and should not command top billing. The information about dates and times for Chat Events should be located in the CALENDAR page not atop every site page. Now I know the Chat sessions are an important, indeed vital, feature of this site, but a simple one line announcement in the existing Chat Forum such as “The next hosted Chat Event will take place on September 20, 2008, at 17:00 GMT with a second Chat 5 hours later.” should suffice. The details about time adjustments and countdown are appropriately located in the CALENDAR section of the site.

Suggestion #3 – Reduce the “visual noise” There is entirely too much use of differing text formatting effects which bring unjustified emphasis to the text containing them. The very first line of of text atop each page is a perfect example. The word bulletin for example is colored red, in bold face, italicized capital lettering, visually this is the equivalent of screaming at me! The next two words in the sentence are each started with a capital letter, then the next word is all capitals, colored red again. This condition of exaggerated emphasis on various portions of the text is distracting to the reader and I believe actually causes confusion rather than clarity of information. If I were to try to read any book with this type of text formatting I would drop it after two pages! I don’t believe it was the designer’s intent to confuse but that is the net effect.

Suggestion #4 - Reduce the amount of verbiage in the dialogue box titles (this relates back to Suggestion #3). For example with the main menu bar, “Forum Home Page” > “Home”, “Order Jack’s (2nd) Key Sound Training Seminar” > “Purchase Seminars”, “Personal Coaching with Jack” > “Coaching”, “Gold Nuggets Success Stories” > “Nuggets”, “Google Site Search” > “Search”. This kind of simplification makes it much easier for viewers to quickly read, find and pick a category to go to.

Suggestion #5 – Reduce and consolidate some of the separate little item boxes or eliminate the formatting box they exist within, for example when multiple pages become available the small colored box that pops up which says “Page ? of ? 1 2 >” could be automatically included at the bottom of the appropriate pages or if that is not possible simply removing the color and frame so that it appears as plain text against a white background.

Suggestion #6 – Let the KISS (Keep It Simple Simon) principle be a guide for all aspects of the site layout and texting. This will go a long way toward making the site more usable and friendly. There are many powerful features incorporated within this website but they are probably being underutilized because of the confusing complexity and lack of available information for implementing them.

For what they're worth, those are a few of my suggestions.

[Jack]

Hi Everyone... I want to make our Forum and website become easier to use and navigate, and to have Web 2.0 features such as podcasts and educational YouTube video embeds (non-explicit, but informative), to make our online community here MUCH more user-friendly and WAY easier to find the stuff that YOU think is REALLY helpful in continuing to learn KSMO and in your helping OTHERS to learn this lifelong skill.

I also want to empower YOU to become more directly involved in bringing forward the content that you think is most helpful, and for YOU to have the option to even VIEW the information using a layout template and tools that YOU CHOOSE.

Here's a short video that gives you an overview of Joomla and how quickly YOU will be able to change the appearance and layout of how you VIEW the data that is stored in our Forum database (going back to 1997!).

Joomla! is an Open Source (=FREE, heavily supported) CMS (Form-based Content Management System) that has a HUGE global user-base and MANY Templates available with cool plugins for adding LOTS of Web 2.0 features such as podcast- and video embeds into our Templates.

Content generated in our Forum can be automatically piped to a layout that is easily customizable, modifiable, and navigable, BY YOU.

There are MANY companies that offer Joomla Templates... one I particularly like is called RocketTheme which offers some VERY versatile and attractive Templates that can serve as wrappers and layout frameworks for the vBulletin content, and that can provide links to information, video help / how-to-use-the-Forum, etc. in ways that work best for YOU.

That video I referenced above shows how YOU can switch from one template to another, change the text size, etc. ALL TO VIEW THE CONTENT FROM OUR FORUM.

Please take a look at Joomla! and at the RocketThemes Template Options and post your comments and suggestions in this thread as to what Template or Templates you'd like to use - please provide links to them in your post, if you know how. If you don't, ask me!

I'm personally favoring Versatility IV 1.5 as a starting point because it has SO many optional areas or content boxes that can be turned on or off as desired, and of course color scheme, graphics of your choice, etc. can be added as well.

This post is just to get the ball rolling for a discussion within our community as to what people want to see - what templates you'd like.

As a reply please post links to templates you'd like to see implemented, as well as which Plugins or Extensions you'd like to have available to make learning KSMO more FUN and more EFFECTIVE.

Please take a look at the descriptive videos and post your comments to this thread as to what you think and what your Template preferences and plug-ins might be.

[canuck75]

Joomla sounds like a great idea Jack. I work within the web industry and Joomla is such a great CMS system. Depending on the template you get as well, you can provide online users with more 'doorways' into the sites contents.

[artform]

This is a great initiative Jack!

The potential of multi-colour, changing, multi-image options that can enhance, even trigger right brain responses/thinking and the multi-channel neural networking that encourages orgasmic energy blossoms and flows, YES!

The potential for members to aggregate their favourite/most helpful/memorable posts, chat segments, links, and upload images, audio or A/V is hugely enriching for each and all sharing much more richly each member's experience and reflections, YES!

The potential to open this into a spatial geography of history, themes, member's realms and visiting seems close at hand with this kind of flexible software/support, YES!

The potential to make the individual storytelling, which we each patch together somewhat now with our on again off again progress, setbacks, furball wrestling, through-the-body-travelling, history recalls, outside influences and parallel pursuits, and chat question dialogues/fragments, into something more cumulative and holistic can only be helpful to each member, the friends, other members and visitors, YES!

Some quick thoughts on a drop-in visit... Again, I am very enthusiastic about the huge potential making this site more aesthetic, even synaesthetic, as well as kinaesthetic! And member customizable for their version pages, as you suggest. I can hardly wait to play with this!!!

An open site of Member Mosaics! Kundalini Snakes and Key Sound Ladders, but all in the upward mode, except the Furball Slides! (I get a share of the royalties on that one! Hahaha!) Think of the fun we can all have!... ... .. . !!!

[No stimulants were used prior to or during the composition of this post. This is an all natural response.]

all the best to you and Jackie too as you settle in here and through the coming holiday season

artform and mrs. a

[Jack]

Originally Posted by canuck75

Joomla sounds like a great idea Jack. I work within the web industry and Joomla is such a great CMS system. Depending on the template you get as well, you can provide online users with more 'doorways' into the sites contents.

Thanks very much Canuck!

What do you think about starting with the Versatility IV 1.5 Template and then adding more options thenceforth?

If you like the idea of Versatility IV, what content would you like to see in all of the little boxes NOTE you can turn boxes off or on, resize them, and put anything into them you want, especially the ones labelled User

HERE ARE THE LITTLE BOXES

[Jack]

Please use this thread to refer to the Versatility IV layout plan box labels and state what you want to see in each of the boxes.

If there's a different RocketTheme Template you'd like to make available, start a NEW thread in this subforum with the name of the Template and start making you mapping suggestions there!

And here are a TON MORE JOOMLA template sources.

[Jack]

Here's a Chat that artform and I had with some Q & A and how to get started providing your input here re: the Versatility IV 1.5 Template and how you'd like it to be used:

08/11/25 05:33 AM <Jack> Hi Artform!
08/11/25 05:36 AM <artform> Hi Jack!
08/11/25 05:37 AM <artform> I was off posting until now. Maybe you are doing the same now...
08/11/25 05:38 AM <Jack> Thanks VERY much for your entheostic response to Joomla!
08/11/25 05:38 AM <artform> Joomla looks great indeed!
08/11/25 05:39 AM <artform> "entheostic" ? a new coinage or deep gift?..
08/11/25 05:40 AM <Jack> What do you think of starting with Versatility IV 1.5 Layout plan?
08/11/25 05:40 AM <Jack> Both, re: your question.
08/11/25 05:41 AM <Jack> I want it to be a collaborative effort among us all.
08/11/25 05:41 AM <artform> I think the collaborative is essential too.
08/11/25 05:43 AM <artform> Vers..V 1.5 doesn't look as visually rich but the text explanation suggests that strong visuals can be included on it too.
08/11/25 05:44 AM <Jack> Yes exactly re: visual richness. I think where it says User and a number that it can be text, image, or a plugin. That's my understanding anyway.
08/11/25 05:44 AM <artform> as visually rich as some of the others that is, but can't users then reformat to their own template choice on their page(s), or have I misunderstood?
08/11/25 05:45 AM <Jack> I think it's just a matter of deciding what visuals you'd like to have go where.
08/11/25 05:45 AM <artform> Great.
08/11/25 05:46 AM <Jack> I'm not entirely sure how much relocating of content can be handled by a general user, but there is a hierarchy of editorial rights that can be assigned and of course our regular crew could be given whatever rights they'd like, to play around with that.
08/11/25 05:47 AM <Jack> We'll all need to learn this together!
08/11/25 05:48 AM <artform> I think this can be a greatly enriching experience complementing to whole KSMO spirit!
08/11/25 05:49 AM <Jack> Here's the Versatility IV 1.5 Layout Plan

HERE ARE THE LITTLE BOXES

08/11/25 05:50 AM <Jack> Yeah, I agree!
08/11/25 05:51 AM <artform> The podcasts too suggest more audio options. The early experiments with Open Chats on the weekends on the Aneros Forum have raised strong calls for an audio forum. Is that a possibility here?
08/11/25 05:55 AM <artform> Just returning from closer tour of IV 1.5 Layout and it looks very natural and intuitive.
08/11/25 05:57 AM <artform> It is text heavy in the demo, a couple of strong rich images could open up those right brain possibilities too.
08/11/25 05:58 AM <Jack> Definitely re: Podcasts. That's the idea!
08/11/25 06:00 AM <Jack> RE: Demo, please refer to the box labels in the Layout Plan shown above.
08/11/25 06:01 AM <artform> It's now 1:00 am here and it has been a long day, so I must jump into the hay before I just collapse here in the office. I am looking forward to this next evolution of you so valuable site!
08/11/25 06:01 AM <Jack> As I understand it, User as a box label means User-defined so I think that means text or images or a YouTube video or a podcast or whatever! That's what we'll need to verify, but that is my understanding.
08/11/25 06:04 AM <Jack> Ok, I hear ya re: bedtime. But note now that I've added a new thread to the Joomla Sub-Forum
08/11/25 06:05 AM <artform> I just went and each one pops a box saying image as you drag over it. Hope your description is the way it can work.
08/11/25 06:06 AM <Jack> You should bookmark those links I just gave you and start defining what you'd like to see in the various boxes. Also which boxes if any you want to turn off. Boxes labeled Adverts don't have to be advertisements necessarily, although some of the more common things referred to could go there, or in any other box.
08/11/25 06:07 AM <artform> WOW! Just checked out your "new thread" and will take up that offer soon!
08/11/25 06:09 AM <Jack> If you have a question like that, please email a question to: support@rockettheme.com and post your findings in our Joomla sub-forum Versatility IV thread.
08/11/25 06:11 AM <Jack> Ok?
08/11/25 06:11 AM <Jack> I gotta go now too. Dinner's ready. Nice chatting with you, as always!
08/11/25 06:12 AM <artform> Will do soon. Thanks very much Jack. All the best to Jackie. Chat again soon.
08/11/25 06:12 AM <Jack> Jackie says That's very sweet of him (you!) re: best regards.
08/11/25 06:13 AM <Jack> Likewise to Mrs. A and to you!
08/11/25 06:13 AM <Jack> From ME!
08/11/25 06:13 AM <Jack> Sweet Dreams!

[canuck75]

Hey Jack, In response to your question above regarding the Versatility template IV, one of the first things I do with any client that comes in for a website design is to sit down with them and establish a 'wireframe' which is just a hierarchical listing of the pages and subsections within a site. Once I have that I can then establish which sections/ pages carry more weight than others and which ones need to be foregrounded on the website and have prime real estate on the homepage. Remember too that the goal of any good site with alot of content is to provide multiple doors into that content. So not only would you have links in the main navigation but you would have boxes on the homepage leading into the content as well. As I see it right now, this is your basic basic wireframe:

Order Jack's 2nd Key Sound Training Seminar

Personal Coaching with Jack

Orgasm Wiki

Blogs
-Your Blog
-Post to Your Blog
-View Random Blogs
-view specific user blogs

Gold Nugget Success Stories

New Posts

Chat Transcripts

Chat Box Transcripts

Registered Members only goodies

Forum:
-suggestion box
-updates from Jack
-Joomla Buildout
-The lounge
-Complementary Resources
-Chat transcripts
-Chatbox transcripts

Once you have established above, then, as you are already doing, you will want to sit down and decide what new sections/ features you would like on your site. From the template it looks like you will want these additional sections:

-podcasts
-testimonials
-featured users
-helpful links
-more advertising for your online store

Those are just some of the few I can think of. From the reading I've done on the versatility template you posted, it looks like you should be able to provide users with all these features. Hopefully you can play with the layout as the one above is a little too chaotic. Too busy with too many boxes. The hardest part is planning and prioritizing the websites content and what should and shouldn't be on the homepage and where.

[Jack]

Hey Canuck, thanks very much for taking the time to note the details. They're very helpful.

As to busy-ness, as I understand it, virtually ANY of the boxes can be turned off/deselected.

I'd appreciate your thoughts about the main home page and links off of it as well, if you're up to it.

Again, many thanks!
Jack

[canuck75]

Hey Jack, ya I'd love to help you with the homepage. The trick with the homepage is to have enough doors/ entry ways into the sites contents but to keep it uncluttered. A website homepage can basically be divided up into 6 main sections: masthead, footer, body, right side and left side. I've listed below what content should probably be put in each section.

Masthead: navigation menu, graphics, user logon fields

Body: new forum posts, new blog posts, news items, updates from Jack ( to be turned on as needed ), chat box, pod casts.

Left and Right side bars: advertisements for your products, user testimonials, gold nugget stories, complimentary resources, time to next chat, featured users.

Footer: contact info, bookmarks

That's just a simple over view but it's probably a start. I'd be interested to hear what information people would like to see foregrounded as well. I'll try to take some time in the next couple of days and sketch out a basic template of where the content could go. Can you pm me with your fax info Jack?