Shane Adams
I should start by saying I've never been a beta tester before with anything, so my first experience has been/is a bit daunting, because I'm not very tech-savvy. However, I'm quite excited by what I've seen/experienced thus far on the new website, and I wanted to share my opinion on some of the things ST members can expect in the future.
I'll start with what I know, which is simply the user experience. The very first thing that jumped at me regarding the new site is, it's really not much different from the current ST forum as far as aesthetics and basic navigation. The biggest difference on first glance is there are MANY new features. The new chatroom will function basically the same as the current one, but is fully-integrated into the forum itself, for a more complete experience, as well as providing far more chatroom visibility.....which might entice more members to use it. Text styles/colors can be customized, and pics can be posted as well. Also, a cool "vanity" feature is each member's profile avatar is displayed in front of every text line. Cool beans.
One of my favorite new items is the Hashtag feature. No more spending forever digging through the current REPORTS/etc etc threads on TA trying to find a particular date or event, or a post from a paticular member. The new Stormtrack website will feature full-on Twitter style hashtagging, which can be used by members within any ST forum post. These hashtags will serve as automatic search engines, as the 25-most recent hashtags used on ST will appear (linked directly to the post they appeared in) when you click on "Hashtag" on the main page menu. This will (1) create an easy search process because users can simply search for direct hashtag words regarding whatever content they're seeking, and (2) will be a brilliant way for ST members to self-promote either themselves or products within the forum.
The "thumbs up/down" feature makes a triumphant return, and will be part of a new system that's designed to allow ST members to build "reputation" points with the community, by allowing members to "like" a post based on whether they find it informative or simply quality entertainment. The plan with the new system is to discourage in-conversation fights/flame wars (which I have been guilty of more times than I care to count) by allowing users to simply, anonymously tag/report/thumbs down a post. Each good or bad check on a post either gives or takes away a reputation point. You get the idea; post quality stuff and contribute, you'll earn forum "cred" which translates into respect......post a lot of noise and you'll earn a reputation as someone to avoid reading. Some may view this as "tattle tale" but in the grand scheme of trying to maintain order without being too moderation-heavy, it's a brilliant tool.
There are sooo many other cools things that I haven't even touched on. There are other beta testers involved, so I'll stop here and let those folks pick up with other areas of the new website. Suffice to say, I think people will dig it. The Owner/Admins have been putting a ton of work into this, and now that I've seen and experienced some of the fruit of that labor, I have a new appreciation for what they're doing. ST members, it's a fun and exciting time. The future looks cool
I'll start with what I know, which is simply the user experience. The very first thing that jumped at me regarding the new site is, it's really not much different from the current ST forum as far as aesthetics and basic navigation. The biggest difference on first glance is there are MANY new features. The new chatroom will function basically the same as the current one, but is fully-integrated into the forum itself, for a more complete experience, as well as providing far more chatroom visibility.....which might entice more members to use it. Text styles/colors can be customized, and pics can be posted as well. Also, a cool "vanity" feature is each member's profile avatar is displayed in front of every text line. Cool beans.
One of my favorite new items is the Hashtag feature. No more spending forever digging through the current REPORTS/etc etc threads on TA trying to find a particular date or event, or a post from a paticular member. The new Stormtrack website will feature full-on Twitter style hashtagging, which can be used by members within any ST forum post. These hashtags will serve as automatic search engines, as the 25-most recent hashtags used on ST will appear (linked directly to the post they appeared in) when you click on "Hashtag" on the main page menu. This will (1) create an easy search process because users can simply search for direct hashtag words regarding whatever content they're seeking, and (2) will be a brilliant way for ST members to self-promote either themselves or products within the forum.
The "thumbs up/down" feature makes a triumphant return, and will be part of a new system that's designed to allow ST members to build "reputation" points with the community, by allowing members to "like" a post based on whether they find it informative or simply quality entertainment. The plan with the new system is to discourage in-conversation fights/flame wars (which I have been guilty of more times than I care to count) by allowing users to simply, anonymously tag/report/thumbs down a post. Each good or bad check on a post either gives or takes away a reputation point. You get the idea; post quality stuff and contribute, you'll earn forum "cred" which translates into respect......post a lot of noise and you'll earn a reputation as someone to avoid reading. Some may view this as "tattle tale" but in the grand scheme of trying to maintain order without being too moderation-heavy, it's a brilliant tool.
There are sooo many other cools things that I haven't even touched on. There are other beta testers involved, so I'll stop here and let those folks pick up with other areas of the new website. Suffice to say, I think people will dig it. The Owner/Admins have been putting a ton of work into this, and now that I've seen and experienced some of the fruit of that labor, I have a new appreciation for what they're doing. ST members, it's a fun and exciting time. The future looks cool
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