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@thruflo
Created September 1, 2011 11:56
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We need to design and develop Hub App. The plan is to base it on Togethr, presumably in order to:

  • take advantage of the work done on Togethr
  • drive usage of and resource the further development of Togethr
  • generally focus the two efforts in the same direction

However, the features required for a collaboration app don't map exactly onto Togethr and Togethr is currently far too complicated to articulate without getting a headache. The blurred concepts of context/space/place are confusing. It's not clear how users change and filter contexts. Implicit proximity filtering makes less sense the more users dig into the app.

I suggest we revise Togethr in line with the requirements of the collaboration app:

  • simplify the basic structure
  • strip out the complex aspects
  • provide clear user pathways
  • add in events and social media integration

Simplify the basic structure

Let's clearly define the following content objects:

  • User - e.g.: @thruflo
  • Network - e.g.: The Hub
  • Venue - e.g.: Hub Westminster
  • Group - e.g.: Friday Night Drinks

Users can join Networks. Networks contain Venues and Groups. Users checkin to Venues and join Groups. (Groups can optionally be associated with one or more Venues).

Strip out the complex aspects

  • no actions (over and above basic !action word syntax highlighting)
  • no badges (or donations or anything reputational beyond one-click appreciation)
  • no jump to (or "to" fields in a reply)
  • no proximity filtering with Venues and Groups

Provide clear user pathways

When the User opens Togethr, they see a Dashboard that allows them to:

  • login to their Networks
  • discover nearby Venues
  • see what's going on near them (through a proximity-filtered, recent-first Activity Stream)

When they login to a Network (equivalent to accessing hubapp.com directly) they see:

  • network info
  • venues listing
  • members directory
  • message stream

The Venue page provides:

  • venue info
  • events calendar
  • resource booking
  • message stream

The Group page provides:

  • group info
  • message stream

The User page provides:

  • profile info
  • message stream (messages sent by that User)

Users have an Inbox where they receive:

  • messages sent to them
  • messages sent to the Groups they're part of

Users can navigate up and down and between Network, Venue and Group and can view a User or Message. As they do so, they can send a message to whatever they are looking at: "shout out" to a Network or Venue, "message" a Group or User or "reply to" a Message.

Add in events and social media integration

Provide lightweight events:

  • define an Event at a Venue for a duration at a time and place
  • send an invitation Message to a Group and / or Network and to individuals by email address
  • optionally restrict Events to members of Networks or Groups
  • allow Users to accept or decline

Allow Users to post to Twitter and Facebook from Togethr.

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