[Foss4g2009] Re: FOSS4G 2009 Website Submissions

[Lorenzo Becchi]

Tyler, this is much better that what I was imaging. thanks to dig into it.
I'm still not 100% convinced to put all sites in the same instance but 
you're getting closer.
the "home" button still moves to a page that lists all conferences but 
it makes more sense now.

my concern was directed to those web-illiterate that can get lost with a 
couple of unneeded links.

the second concern was about the "active" conference. Maybe you've 
solved this. FOSS4G2009 has to be the active one for the moment but, 
from my point of view, the "active" one is 2010. I don't see any more a 
hierarchy and the home page has (will) just a simple and clean list of 
events. this is good to me.

ciao
lorenzo


Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) wrote:
> It would really rock if we could come up with a general FOSS4G theme 
> to use for foss4g.org too, but I wouldn't see that as 2009's 
> responsibility :)
>
> On 7-Jan-09, at 11:56 AM, mapbutcher wrote:
>
>> What you've suggested is better esp as it gives us control over css 
>> completely  - i just did the initial set up using the current 
>> hierarchy because both 08 and 10 were there in that structure
>>
>> Don't worry about migrating the conference i have started it only 
>> took me 15mins
>>
>> Cheers for your help
>>
>> Simon
>>
>>
>> 2009/1/8 Tyler Mitchell (OSGeo) <tmitchell at osgeo.org>
>> Simon,
>> I think it will be easy to run 2009 as a separate Hosted Conference 
>> in the OCS software.  That means it is not a sub-set of FOSS4G in 
>> particular.  The main reason this would be helpful is that you will 
>> have 100% control on all aspects of theming etc without having to 
>> think about the previous event.  As you can see, the 2008 event, 
>> pretty much took over the whole FOSS4G stream :)
>>
>> There is a hierachical component to OCS that isn't obvious.  What we 
>> currently have is:
>>
>> FOSS4G
>> -- 2008
>> -- 2009
>> Both share various components at the FOSS4G level that may not be 
>> desired.
>>
>> What I'm proposing is more like this:
>> FOSS4G (probably will rename this to FOSS4G 2008)
>> -- 2008
>> FOSS4G 2009
>> -- Sydney
>> FOSS4G 2010
>> -- Barcelona...
>>
>> If this does not makes any sense to you, let me know.  The only catch 
>> is that you will have only a single Scheduled Conference under the 
>> FOSS4G2009 name.  I've set you as a director already.
>>
>> Note, we can still try to make it work the way you started it, but I 
>> can also move it over if you want to retain some of your prep work.
>>
>> http://conference.osgeo.org/index.php/foss4g2009/index
>>
>>
>> On 7-Jan-09, at 3:46 AM, mapbutcher wrote:
>>
>> Folks,
>>
>> I've begun to configure the 2009 OCS conference pages on the OCS 
>> instance on the OSGeo box. If you don't already have an account it 
>> may be an idea to create one:
>>
>> http://conference.osgeo.org/index.php/foss4g/2009/user/account
>>
>> Volker, Shoaib - any preference on which way we should go based upon 
>> my earlier email?
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>>
>> Simon
>>
>>
>> 2009/1/5 Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter at gmail.com>
>> Copying to the foss4g2009 email list for archiving.
>>
>>
>> Lorenzo Becchi wrote:
>> Hi Simon, thank you to include me in this list.
>> I would suggest to use a mailing list to go on with this conversation 
>> because it is important to have it archived, IMO.
>> another thing I would like to suggest is the use of a wiki page, 
>> you've made so many important questions that it is normal that you 
>> will receive an answer at the time, if you're lucky ;-)
>>
>> my experience with OCS is still very limited, I've just set up an 
>> instance [1] to practice. The instalation is pretty easy if you don't 
>> have safe_mode php (I do).
>>
>> I've started a private conversation with Tyler about part of your 
>> questions and he has discovered interesting features that I guess he 
>> will comment to everybody.
>>
>> I'll check out the few answers I can maybe give while we decide if 
>> it's worth to move the conversation to foss4g2009 mailing list.
>>
>> ciao
>> Lorenzo
>>
>> [1] http://foss4g2010.org
>>
>>
>>
>> mapbutcher wrote:
>> All, (Lorenzo cc'd because of your recent emails to OSGeo-conf, Gavin 
>> your experience of OCS in 2008 may help shape our choice of scenario?)
>>
>> We need to 'integrate' the current site (http:.//2009.foss4g.org/ 
>> <http://2009.foss4g.org/>) with OCS for 2009. We need to have these 
>> processes handled:
>>
>>  1. Workshop submission (2nd February 2009 Call for workshops open)
>>  2. Abstract submission (9th March 2009 Call for abstracts open)
>>
>> I've purposefully not discussed here the presentation of the 
>> conference programme on the website as i feel this adds a layer of 
>> complexity to the integration which we should handle separately. 
>> Instead I suggest we work on this separate from the submission 
>> process -  any feelings on this? Given the time frames I'd like to 
>> suggest the following  - I'm open to other scenarios but please 
>> consider our time frame:
>>
>> Scenario 1 - Partial Integration
>>
>> a) We develop a workshop proposal and abstract submission page 
>> external from OCS for the current site (http://2009.foss4g.org/).
>> b) Ideally it would be preferable if these pages do not require 
>> authorisation to make the process of submission simple (If possible? 
>> - see clarification questions below)
>> c) Submissions are made directly into the OCS database via an OCS API 
>> (If possible? - see clarification questions below)
>> d) Submissions are reviewed internally by OC using OCS (If possible? 
>> - see clarification questions below)
>>
>> Scenario 2 - OCS
>>
>> a) We link a new submission page on the current site to OSGeo OCS 
>> instance (ideally the most obvious entry point - i.e. register, 
>> submission but not just OCS home)
>> b) We use what css capability in OCS to make these sites 'appear as one'
>> c) Workshop proposals are put through as submissions in OCS under a 
>> 'workshop' track
>> d) We follow the OCS work flows for review
>>
>> Scenario 3 -  OCS and Review through current site
>>
>> a) We follow scenario 1 or 2 (probably 2) above until submission is 
>> complete
>> b) We provide visibility onto OCS data from the current site for the 
>> following (both of these we develop outside of OCS):
>>   i) Workshop and Presentation Open Vote
>>   ii)Online Programme
>>  From a practical point of view we have limited time & resources. 
>> Granted OCS has cosmetic issues as well as having a rather rigid work 
>> flow but it brings a certain amount to the table which we may not 
>> have the resources to replicate in time for the workshop and abstract 
>> submission opening. Personally I cannot throw much time at this in 
>> January, Shoaib & Volker what is your availability? Given this my 
>> preference would be Scenario 3 with the following outline approach:
>>
>>  1. Create 2009 Conference in OCS on OSGeo box (easy)
>>  2. Configure the necessary parts for submissions (more time
>>     consuming, but not tricky)
>>  3. Set up styles(again a bit time consuming)
>>  4. Test submission work flow
>>  5. Create registration page on 2009.foss4g outlining submission
>>     work flow and with links into OCS
>>  6. Begin to develop a workshop and presentation open vote
>>     page\backend for 2009.foss4g
>>  7. Begin to develop a programme page\backend for 2009.foss4g
>>
>> Below are some clarification questions that Shoaib and I discussed 
>> when we met in December which some people may be able to answer
>>
>>  1. What version of OCS is OSGeo using currently?
>>  2. What backend does OSGeo use for OCS?
>>  3. Does OCS allow abstracts once reviewed and approved to be
>>     'assigned' to a time slot in the programme?
>>  4. OCS does not support 'workshop' proposal submission is this
>>     correct? i.e. it only supports abstract submission
>>  5. What information do we need to gather as part of workshop
>>     submissions?
>>  6. Does OCS support ATOM/RSS and iCal feed creation
>>  7. Does OCS allow the program to be displayed on a website in the
>>     form of a calender, my understanding is that OCS only displays a
>>     conference program as a list?
>>  8. Does OCS have support for conference Streams/Themes? if so does
>>     if allow Abstracts and Workshops to be assigned to Themes? My
>>     understanding is that OCS uses 'Tracks' to do this?
>>  9. Does OCS have an API to submit abstracts so the we can call it
>>     directly from the foss4g website without having to transition to
>>     another site. e.g. can we setup the abstract submission form on
>>     FOSS4G that calls the OCS with an HTTP Post request. My
>>     understanding is that there isn't an API and there are some very
>>     basic import mechanisms
>>  10. How does OCS support email notification of proposal/abstract
>>     submission & approval?
>>  11. Does OCS require every user to login with the correct roles or
>>     can we by-pass this requirement to simplify the the
>>     abstract/workshop submission? e.g. will this require a proxy user?
>>  12. If we submit Abstract/Workshops to the back end directly (by
>>     passing OCS) can OCS still be used to review and approve them?
>>  13. How hard is it to change the theme and layout of the OCS
>>     webpages so that the transition between the foss4g site and OCS
>>     is as smooth as possible
>>
>>
>> We need to begin to move on this ASAP so if we can gather feedback, 
>> preferences etc by 8th Dec:
>> http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?day=8&month=1&year=2009&hour=12&min=0&sec=0&p1=240 
>> <http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?day=8&month=1&year=2009&hour=12&min=0&sec=0&p1=240> 
>>
>>
>> Cameron can we take a decision on the way forward thereafter?
>>
>> Simon
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Cameron Shorter
>> Geospatial Systems Architect
>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>>
>> Think Globally, Fix Locally
>> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
>> http://www.lisasoft.com
>>
>>
>>
>> Tyler Mitchell
>> Executive Director
>> Open Source Geospatial Foundation
>> tmitchell at osgeo.org
>> P: +1-250-277-1621
>> M: +1-250-303-1831
>>
>>
>>
>
> Tyler Mitchell
> Executive Director
> Open Source Geospatial Foundation
> tmitchell at osgeo.org
> P: +1-250-277-1621
> M: +1-250-303-1831
>
>