Forum Activity for @researchcooperative

Can the search box for group members do more than finding member usernames?

Suggestions

@strumelia, @michael

On group pages in JR, there is a very nice panel that lists the profiles of members of the group.

When we expand the member list view, we are also shown a search box. This could be a useful thing for groups with many members.

Unfortunately, that search box only looks at the usernames of the group members. Profile data are not searched.

This means the search box is only useful if you are looking for someone with a user name that you already know.

For most people, a blank search box is in invitation to search using any keyword of interest.

Unless the limitations of the search box in this specific location are explained ("usernames only"), visitors will find the search more frustrating than useful.

My suggestion is to give Admin a simple way to configure the search box for group members (or any search box for that matter).

Default:
- all searchable profile data fields
Options:
- selected profile data fields,
- usernames only

It is also useful to display options (for all visitors) to view the group member list according to:

first letter, newest, most viewed

This or something similar might also be good for the group member list (perhaps based on the status of the member in the full site member list, not just within the group).

For reference, I show the sort and search options now displayed on my main member index page (the result of a skin customization). This works very well.

updated by @researchcooperative: 08/24/18 03:02:04AM

How to use the notifications dropdown menu - more clarity is needed

Using Jamroom


Thanks. Good suggestions.

How to use the notifications dropdown menu - more clarity is needed

Using Jamroom


Yes. And I have been trying to get feedback from users for years. Usually it only happens when I find a research colleague who is interested in the site and knows me personally. I am not sure how best to ellicit feedback when there is so little usage of the site to begin with. It's an act of faith on my part, almost, that there is inefficient communication in the scientific world and hence a need for the site I have created. But my own communication is obviously inefficient!

I feel like I am trying to lift an elephant by using a feather as a lever.

How to use the notifications dropdown menu - more clarity is needed

Using Jamroom

ps

Possibly off-topic, but this book (which I have read) helps explain why people do not see most of what is in front of their eyes:

Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach (2017) The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone

"We all think we know more than we actually do. Humans have built hugely complex societies and technologies, but most of us don’t even know how a pen or a toilet works. How have we achieved so much despite understanding so little? Cognitive scientists Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach argue .... etc."

How to use the notifications dropdown menu - more clarity is needed

Using Jamroom

I'm not guessing. I was confused. Others will be confused too.

I'm an experienced scientific editor. Since I didn't understand the notifications page at first glance, I am sure many others will not understand it also, if they have actually seen it. Probably most have not seen it, as most have not filled out their profile details.

I am trying, gradually, to raise activity in the network by making the site as frictionless as possible.

The main reason defaults have not been changed is lack of activity in the network. Of this I am 100% sure.

Whether or not other users are OK with the notifications page, I am not OK with it.

How to use the notifications dropdown menu - more clarity is needed

Using Jamroom


We can monitor this to some extent by looking at the Notification settings of existing members who have joined at different times.

I looked at several just now, and found that none have touched the default "send email" settings.

In the past, some members have turned off notifications entirely.

I suspect that most members have not been interested enough to look, or have looked without seeing that there is a drop down menu (my own non-comprehending reaction when I first looked).

The fact that I, as site owner, find the settings non-obvious means that most new users are likely to find them non-obvious as well.

How to use the notifications dropdown menu - more clarity is needed

Using Jamroom

It's only simple if you already know how the page works!

For (many) new visitors nothing is simple.

But yes... there seems to be too much text. As a language string, the static text could be modified according to the Admin's preference.

Display tag search results as panel, not as list

Suggestions

Hmmm - I wonder if something like a "list manager" module could be designed to work on top of lists from multiple sources and format them in various ways for display?

Or can the jrTags 'tag_list.tpl' template be adjusted to display all lists as panels, for wide screens (not for mobile phones)?

At the moment I cannot imagine any situation where the long column list would be preferable as a default for wide screens.

Thanks.

How to use the notifications dropdown menu - more clarity is needed

Using Jamroom


Yes - that looks good. Another approach might be to add static instruction to the present layout, as indicated in the attached mashup.

I wonder if both ways of setting up the notification settings page can be offered for Admin to choose (i.e. with/without dropdown list)?

In the mashup, I have put the "Disable" option last (at the bottom of the page) rather than first (at top).

Display tag search results as panel, not as list

Suggestions

Thanks.

A screenshot of the top of the tag results page is attached.

The results are displayed in a single column for three pages. Since my laptop screen is small, and the profile image size remains constant under all circumstances, the amount of scrolling and page switching needed is rather discouraging, and mostly empty space is displayed.

updated by @researchcooperative: 05/06/18 06:19:55AM