cgov.in page design and layout

[Lalatendu Dash]

On url www.cgov.in we will offer the following tabs 

• Home - The landing page for the site. Will have some details about the entire website, its intent etc.
• Govern Yourself! - This tab will deliver all our goodies implemented using ushahidi. This will probably be implemented as a frame, with the target URL for our ushahidi implementation. 
• Blog (or some other simple term meaning blog). This will host our blogging functionality. We have to design our blogging page structure to address issues like context, spam prevention etc. To ensure that bloggers remain within context, we may have to have 'categories' under which a blogger can post. Let us have a separate thread on which we can pin down the exact features for  blogging. 
• About - Usual Stuff
• Contact Us - Usual stuff

The idea is to provide a single platform, on which both blogging and governing features are covered, and user is able to switch between them seamlessly.

I agree with Shamik's proposal to have some sort of logo for this site. The logo, with probably a collage of some pictures, can sit on the top portion of the site all the time. The current picture, if I may say, looks a little too heavy, and barren.

Does all these sound sensible?

Cheers,

Lala

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Thanks, Lala. My suggestion (if it is possible to implement) is that the site should be interactive. E.g. Why does anyone want to visit it? - To lodge a complaint/ to view whether problems in their mohalla have been identified and complaints lodged to authorities, etc.

Therefore it might be best to have the home page directly ask these (or such) things and link people to the appropriate area. Questions could be thus:

- Lodge your complaint through SMS/ twitter

- Check the status of your complaint?

Other questions could be: 

- Volunteer as helper to the citizens' government 

- Write in detail about your problem

- Sponsor the citizens' government

And finally something like:

- What is the citizens' government?

etc. These questions will then help us design the website structure more appropriately. The main objective should be to make it very easy for someone who visits the website to do something.

I suspect this will evolve as we develop this concept further. 

Re: beautification, I'd suggest leaving it to the very end (e.g. logo) since that is usually very time consuming and we will be better off by having professional designers do that kind of work. The current goal should perhaps be to focus on functionality. But of course, if you have design skills, please do use them!

s

--
sanjeev sabhlok
Blog: http://sabhlokcity.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabhlok/

Freedom Team: http://freedomteam.in

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

From the FB group, this comment by Aaryan is worth incorportating somewhere in the text:

This can become a very good tool. A snapshot of all the issues at hand, work in progress and resolved issues. This is like monitoring a "Project plan" on one hand and "RTI" on other. This platform will merge all such things viz. Right to Information, Right to recall, and other Rights (food, education etc.). 

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Sanjev Sir, the WP Plugin "Page points to" achieves exactly that. Just
highlight the things (specifically ) we must link to from the homepage
and I'll do the rest. Also if I may say, the Business Lite Theme
allows us to highlight our aims/objectives as you said in the form of
boxes below a slideshow. (You can check my Vivekananda url if you want
swamivivekananda.org.in - the boxes on the homepage can do a great
job). Please comment whether we should implement this, and if it's a
'yes', then I'll need three pictures for the slideshow, actually that
can be a good way to drive attention of our visitor's to our main
objectives.

Comments and suggestions pls...

On Apr 21, 2:58 pm, Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks, Lala. My suggestion (if it is possible to implement) is that the
> site should be interactive. E.g. Why does anyone want to visit it? - To
> lodge a complaint/ to view whether problems in their mohalla have been
> identified and complaints lodged to authorities, etc.
>
> Therefore it might be best to have the home page directly ask these (or
> such) things and link people to the appropriate area. Questions could be
> thus:
>
> - Lodge your complaint through SMS/ twitter
> - Check the status of your complaint?
>
> Other questions could be:
> - Volunteer as helper to the citizens' government
> - Write in detail about your problem
> - Sponsor the citizens' government
>
> And finally something like:
> - What is the citizens' government?
>
> etc. These questions will then help us design the website structure more
> appropriately. The main objective should be to make it very easy for

> someone who visits the website to *do* something.

>
> I suspect this will evolve as we develop this concept further.
>
> Re: beautification, I'd suggest leaving it to the very end (e.g. logo)
> since that is usually very time consuming and we will be better off by
> having professional designers do that kind of work. The current goal should
> perhaps be to focus on functionality. But of course, if you have design
> skills, please do use them!
>
> s
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

> On Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 4:04 AM, Lalatendu Dash <ldash...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On urlwww.cgov.inwe will offer the following tabs
>
> >    - Home - The landing page for the site. Will have some details about

> >    the entire website, its intent etc.

> >    - Govern Yourself! - This tab will deliver all our goodies implemented

> >    using ushahidi. This will probably be implemented as a frame, with the
> >    target URL for our ushahidi implementation.

> >    - Blog (or some other simple term meaning blog). This will host our

> >    blogging functionality. We have to design our blogging page structure to
> >    address issues like context, spam prevention etc. To ensure that bloggers
> >    remain within context, we may have to have 'categories' under which a
> >    blogger can post. Let us have a separate thread on which we can pin down
> >    the exact features for  blogging.

> >    - About - Usual Stuff
> >    - Contact Us - Usual stuff

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik, Lala, Anubhava - my suggestion is that you just go ahead and do whatever you want. Play around with this stuff in any form and shape and let the team (this group) comment when you need any feedback. Don't worry about "breaking" anything. Just backup the few posts/content before tinkering. 

Everything is up for change, including theme, plugins, logos, etc.  Feel free to experiment.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Actually I think it's not necessary to go on with two WP
installations. The main WP installation can serve both the purpose of
a CMS and a blog. It can be designed such that the blogging page is
not the homepage and the homepage remains static, highlighting our
goals etc. etc...

And please make a complete list (at one single place like a document)
listing ALL the pages that should have a link-to from the main page.
(The plugin I mentioned above allows you to add arbitrary pages and
have them pointing to different places, like we can have a page titled
"Report to us" pointing to the ushahidi platform. So navigation should
not be any problem).

On Apr 21, 9:48 pm, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> > > On urlwww.cgov.inwewill offer the following tabs

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik

The reason why I had a separate one for the blog is to have a stand-alone People's Blog. It should have a different template/logo, etc.  E.g. I've called it the People's Blog with a different header image. 

So I'd suggest ignoring the blog entirely for the moment. It is not a key feature of this effort. Just work on the main one, to have people lodge complaints, for us to systematically organise these, and to report and monitor these.

s

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik

I'd suggest just doing it, based on your best judgement. Then seek feedback. Let's keep moving.

s

On Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 5:05 PM, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesig...@gmail.com> wrote:

Sanjeev Sir and other WP admins, pls have a look at the preview of
Andrina Lite 2.5.1 by InkThemes.com. I've installed but haven't
activated it yet. I think this theme will ideally suit our layout
provided we can do away with the "from the blog section"...

Comments pls...

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Sanjeev Sir and other WP admins, pls have a look at the preview of
Andrina Lite 2.5.1 by InkThemes.com. I've installed but haven't
activated it yet. I think this theme will ideally suit our layout
provided we can do away with the "from the blog section"...

Comments pls... btw we can change the header picture and replace it
with our logo, that'd make it better.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

One more request, Soumik. Pl. call me Sanjeev, the extra "sir" is not needed at all. We are here as equals; all trying to achieve a common goal. Thanks for this. 

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

I have activated it, but lot's of customization are to be done

On Apr 22, 2:21 pm, Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> One more request, Soumik. Pl. call me Sanjeev, the extra "sir" is not
> needed at all. We are here as equals; all trying to achieve a common goal.
> Thanks for this.
>
> On Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 5:07 PM, Soumik Bhattacharyya <
>

[Lalatendu Dash]

Hi Anubhava,

Can you please create an admin user for us in the Ushahidi platform. We can then start configuring the platform for integrating with SMS/twitter/email etc.

Cheers.

Lala

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Ok now if all problems (regarding changes in the theme) are solved I
think it's time we decide what will those 4 boxes contain? I think one
of them should have a link to ushahidi platform, for the rest I'm
looking for comments and suggestions.

I suppose everyone is fine with the theme?

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Also I think it'd look better if we disable the comment-box on pages.

That would make it look more like a website than a blog.

On Apr 22, 6:01 am, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Lalatendu Dash]

Yes I agree. 

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Done

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Sanjeev ji, about the logo I'd say to get someone on the job while we
configure the rest of the site.

So let our logo be designed while we do the configuration

On Apr 22, 6:45 am, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik, remember that when google/yahoo started, the logo was nothing but their name. Funcionality is king, not logos. 

We can just write the name in simple language and then worry about logo much later, assuming the functionality is useful and people appreciate this work. In the meanwhile, if logo is needed, please just use the #cgov hashtag.

Anyway, that's my suggestion. 

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Ok.

Now that the main website looks pretty developed, someone please
consider changing the header image.

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

I've uploaded a sample picture for the time-being. Pls feel free to
change it to something better

On Apr 24, 12:19 am, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Dear Soumik,

Thanks.

Now let's say that I'm an educated person in a great hurry. I have a
complaint/ issue but I don't have time to study the different sections
in great detail. How do I use this website? How do I know what to do?
It is possible to make this truly simple and interactive?

For instance, could the MAIN instruction be posted in the big box in
the front (instead of an image "citizens' government"? That box should
tell me something like this:

===
We aggregate and act on all complaints. Please send your complaint by
SMS message to XXX or send a tweet to @cgovindia with #cgov hashtag
==
Just a suggestion.

In brief, we need to really simplify the thing and make it as
functional as possible. Everything should (ideally) be in ONE step,
not through various routes/ links.

Is this possible?

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Ok.
How about the box to the right with the heading 'Recent Works' ? That
place is yet to be filled with text, so we can put the main
instructions over there. What do you think of this?

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Additionally there is a small black box with the text "Citizens govt.
aims to provide a platform for all Indians to lodge their
complaints....." We can jot down the main instruction as to actually
lodging a complaint in that space...

On Apr 24, 4:58 am, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Nikita.M]

right now since i am under trainning point of my carrer of software skllls where they just brush up basics of all technologies...so technically i cant help c govt right now..but any other help which in which i could help the coordinators if you could let me knw i will surely try to do/..

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik, the ONLY attraction for this system is that people can directly lodge complaints from their mobile phones from wherever they are, instead of going to a government office, and get action done. 

I think instead of working on the website for now, let's get the workflow clear and publish it, so everyone (including us) knows how this will help the man in the slum/village who wants to report a pressing problem but doesn't have time to go to a government office to do so (or doesn't know where to go to).

Our site must be gain all functionality first, then the decoration. And any instruction must be very clear - and the first thing that someone reads on the website. All logos/etc. can be toned down to make them insignificant. Just the function. 

Even today, google's search page is a simple box that asks you to type in what you want to search. Let's get to that stage when we can offer VERY SIMPLE and clear functionality. That will require a clear and shared understanding of the workflow.

If it is simple, it will 'sell', ie it will spread through the social media. If it complex it will bomb. The first users are the youth who use social media. Let's make sure that it is simple and clear so they will lodge at least one complaint upon seeing this website (if for nothing else but to try it out).

s

--
sanjeev sabhlok
Blog: http://sabhlokcity.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabhlok/

Freedom Team: http://freedomteam.in

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

The workflow is working properly. Tweets and emails are properly being
received and displayed. We now need to get on with our sms number.
Please jot down point-wise what else needs to be done to get it going
at first-stage.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

I understand that the technical flow is fine, Soumik. I'm saying - how do you explain this to someone who doesn't know anything about this. The website is very technical and doesn't tell me anything in ONE line about what I'm to do or why should I do it. That's the key = to convert this technical information into plain English and make it bold and clear to the visitor.

I gave the example of google. Google search doesn't have "about" etc. at the top but at the bottom. Also, it doesn't clutter the main page with a bland image which says "google". It simply has an empty search box.

We need a functionality based image to the world - if you know what I mean. Not a decorative website. Very plain and simple instruction to the world about what they should do.No clutter (or large images) should be visible when someone lands on this site.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

"....how do

you explain this to someone who doesn't know anything about this. The
website is very technical and doesn't tell me anything in ONE line
about

what I'm to do...."

It does tell one what to do and how to do so in multiple areas right
on the homepage. Like "Make a complaint/Check status of your
complaint" box just below the picture (which itself is self-
explanatory), followed by a blog post of yours whose excerpt lies on
the homepage, AND to the right "What does Citizens' Government
do" ...All these areas highlight our goals. Even after all that, the
footer also displays a gist of our aims and objectives, that should be
enough for anyone to get an idea of what to do and how to do without
going into detailed description of the web-pages. Also after we get
our sms no. there should be provision for auto-response which will
send a reply to the sender highlighting the link of his complaint in
the Ushahidi page, so that he can check it's progress as and when he
wishes. Otherwise our volunteers will have to reply to him with the
adequate details.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

I notice that the website is getting better. Now a few more things and it will be perfectly clear.

a) Can we remove the top part and push it to the bottom? (see link)

b) The image is fine but still very complex. This is a second tier information (i.e. through a link "How does this work"? I suggest that main image should only have this information:

Do you have ANY complaint about any governance matter? 

1) Please send SMS to xxx 

OR

2) Please send tweet with #cgov hashtag

Please include your town/city and PIN code

What next? Click here.

Also: at the top of the page in a corner: "Please volunteer to help". 

Nothing else. Everything else should be below. In this regard it will be nice if we don't have any image but simple plain text that can be edited readily by anyone in the team. Maybe this means trying another theme?

Anyway these are just my suggestions. Till I'm not very clear what is happening, I think the average person on the ground won't be clear.

Also, we'll need instructions in different languages (we can do that later).

s

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

I was thinking of Grovo/ Hubpages, etc. and suggest that we consider using a simple video software to create a video that explains what has to be done by a user.

Example video: http://hubpages.com/

A video created for FTI by a volunteer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=935xLqSQ04w

How this was created: http://goanimate.com/

Although it is my general rule to act on suggestions I make, I'm leaving this idea here to be picked up if found useful.

--
sanjeev sabhlok
Blog: http://sabhlokcity.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabhlok/

Freedom Team: http://freedomteam.in

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Thanks for your suggestion again.

Now here is something I wanted to say in context of the post you made
before this one...

1) Almost all WP themes have place for "Featured Image" compulsorily
in their themes.
2) The Bar containing the pages should ideally be at the top of any
website.
3) "............but simple plain text that can be edited
readily by anyone in the team" - I've installed a theme called
Cloriato Lite 1.4 and another called Responsive 1.4.9 - these have
features with a site heading along with some description of the same,
pls have a look at them and tell whether they meet all necessities.

If not, it'd be nice if you yourself can suggest us a theme that meets
all requirements and yet looks like a website and not a blog...I'm
unabe to find any such theme myself. In case we don't find a theme,
let us design the website ourselves...Just my suggestion.

On Apr 26, 2:36 pm, Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I notice that the website is getting better. Now a few more things and it
> will be perfectly clear.
>
> a) Can we remove the top part and push it to the bottom? (see link)
>
> b) The image is fine but still very complex. This is a second tier
> information (i.e. through a link "How does this work"? I suggest that main
> image should only have this information:
>

> *Do you have ANY complaint about any governance matter? *
> *1) Please send SMS to xxx *
> *OR*
> *2) Please send tweet with #cgov hashtag*
> *Please include your town/city and PIN code*
> *What next? Click here.*

>
> Also: at the top of the page in a corner: "Please volunteer to help".
>
> Nothing else. Everything else should be below. In this regard it will be
> nice if we don't have any image but simple plain text that can be edited
> readily by anyone in the team. Maybe this means trying another theme?
>
> Anyway these are just my suggestions. Till I'm not very clear what is
> happening, I think the average person on the ground won't be clear.
>
> Also, we'll need instructions in different languages (we can do that later).
>
> s
>

>  Untitled.png
> 81KViewDownload

[Lalatendu Dash]

Dear Soumik,

I am just starting to think, we might be following a wrong approach for designing our pages. I think we should decide what we want to have on our page first , and then get down to building it by choosing/modifying the themes. Do you agree?

I think we should come up with some sort of sketch, refine it taking each others input, and then build it. These 'wireframes', should help us in optimizing our efforts.

I have put together a very rough proposed wireframe of the homepage, and attaching it herewith. Please can you and others let us know if we are OK with this. Please let me know your inputs and I will try to incorporate them in the wireframe. We will start building the page only after we agree on the layout.   

Cheers,

Lala

On Sat, Apr 28, 2012 at 10:59 AM, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesig...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ah...I've worked enough and more with the current theme to make things
as simple as possible. Sanjeevji, I don't think the pagebar and the
logo should be any problem now that I've highlighted the main text at
the top of the page in bold.

On Apr 27, 11:28 pm, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Agreed.
1) But what will be there in the "Detailed Description" Section when
one opens the homepage?
2) How do you explain all the four tabs by mere images? I mean what
will be the image for - say, Make Complaint, Volunteer with us etc.? I
think we should replace them by mere tab/buttons.
3)It is very difficult (if not impossible) to find a WP theme that
does not bear a place/caption for "Featured image" . Suppose we don't
find such a theme, then what?
4) How will the user know what this site is all about at first
glance?
Waiting for others' comments

>  Frontpage_Design_Wireframe.jpg
> 92KViewDownload
>
>  Frontpage_Design_Wireframe.docx
> 44KViewDownload

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Okay, and finally adding one more - if we change our current theme
then why should we do so?

Because -

1) The header message gives the user a clear idea of our website
2) We can represent our ideas by images (as you suggested) in the 4
boxes.


On Apr 28, 9:20 am, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Lalatendu Dash]

Soumik, answers in-line.

On Sat, Apr 28, 2012 at 5:20 PM, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesig...@gmail.com> wrote:

Agreed.
1) But what will be there in the "Detailed Description" Section when
one opens the homepage?

Good question. I think we can default this to the 'Know More' selection.

 

2) How do you explain all the four tabs by mere images? I mean what
will be the image for - say, Make Complaint, Volunteer with us etc.? I
think we should replace them by mere tab/buttons.

I think images will look more appealing than just tabs or buttons. Well chosen images are not only better in communicating messages, but also leave impression in the minds of users. People tend to understand stuff more easily by looking into diagrams/pcitures etc, than reading text.

Can we not use the images that we are already using in the four tabs below.  

 

3)It is very difficult (if not impossible) to find a WP theme that
does not bear a place/caption for "Featured image" . Suppose we don't
find such a theme, then what?

I don't know. Do we really have to use a theme? Can we not, say, design the page without using any template? My knowledge of web development is very limited, and this is the first time I am doing anything in WP. Will try to do a bit of digging around and see what we can do.

4) How will the user know what this site is all about at first
glance?

I think this relates to your first question. If we can default the contents of 'Detailed Description' area to  'Know More'/About Us selection, then we should be fine.

[Lalatendu Dash]

On Sat, Apr 28, 2012 at 5:22 PM, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesig...@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay, and finally adding one more - if we change our current theme
then why should we do so?

Because -

1)  The header message gives the user a clear idea of our website
2) We can represent our ideas by images (as you suggested) in the 4
boxes.

The header image and text are taking too much space on the page and do not look very impressive. Also, with the existing theme, my concern is too much space is taken up by the main image. The space taken up by the main image can be better used for providing valuable information of varied nature.  This is the landing page of the website, so we have to design it in such a way that it gives a good idea about all  functions and features of the site to the visitor, in as little time of visit as possible. 

[Lalatendu Dash]

Sending an updated version of the wireframe layout. Please let us know about your views on the same.

Cheers,

Lala

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Sorry, I've been offline for a while. For whatever it is worth, it is possible to disconnect the WP theme for a while and work purely on html. 

That's how FTI's website started. After months of iterative improvement we had the basic structure of what it should look like - and that was therefore converted into a customised WP theme.

The simplest way to work on this is to prepare the 'shell' of the page on Microsoft Word, save as "Web page, filtered" html. That can then be uploaded either by Anubhava or me (it requires control panel password) and we can keep improving it till we get its content right. Then, after piloting the work and making sure it works, we can get a professional designer to convert into a customised WP theme.

s

PS: I will separately provide comment on the wireframe later today, time permitting.

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

agreed again. Lala ji, the structure you suggested can easily be
converted to html code. There's no need to go for MS Word Sanjeevji.
Simple HTML code should solve our issue. I've some fair bit of
knowledge about HTML/CSS/Jquery. I'm sure we can jointly get it to
work. BTW is this structure final?

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik, please use something that is a) not final and b) can be easily changed. This work, let me assure you, will go through many iterations as we get it all worked out, then tested. So something really flexible is best. Happy for you to use any other system.

Looks like I won't get time to comment on the wireframes, but I leave it to the very able hands of the project team to  try the best way to 

(a) make clear to a complainant what needs to be done 

(b) make clear to potential volunteers how they can help and 

(c) make clear to organisations how they can sponsor this.

I think the phone issue should be resolved fairly soon (or at least progressed further). Two people have contacted and they should be in touch on this team soon.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Capital!
But here we do have 29 members but that's just by the figures, I don't
think anymore than 4(Sanjeevji, lalaji, anubhavaji, myself) people
participate. how about posting this frame in the fb grp?

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Please feel free to use ALL possible opportunities and methods to widely communicate. Post whatever you like on your blog/FB, etc. This must gain momentum.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Okay, but I'd first like to have the views of the members over here.
What do they think of this structure? If they oppose it, why so? Once
the structure is finalized, we will have some pro developing the
corresponding WP theme. ONLY AFTER THE ENTIRE WP WEBSITE IS DEVELOPED
SHOULD WE GO TO PUBLICIZE IT.

Is this final?

Now Sanjeevji, what exactly do you mean by ".........piloting the work
and making sure it works........." ? We already know that the pilot
stuff works alright with tweets and emails, only thing is the sms
part, which I think should not be of much trouble. Whatever remains
now is to get the structure of our main site ready.

So let's first finalize the basic skeleton of the mainpage NOW. Once
that is done we will look further.

I express full support for lalaji's structure, but for the image part.
How will the user at all know that he will have to click the images
one by one? That's one reason I wanted tabs/buttons. The rest is okay
with me. Waiting for the others...

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

"what exactly do you mean by ".........piloting the work and making sure it works........." ? 

I'm not talking about the "engine room" (i.e underlying software). Just like we as consumers don't care about how google's search engine actually works (its code), so also we should think ONLY about our consumer - what he needs. None of the technical stuff.

That means not having a shred of unnecessary information to distract/confuse. 

This also means that we may not adequately judge (in our initial discussions) what the consumer actually wants. So we will need to pilot it through a few people and get feedback on their experience: whether it worked for them, whether it was clear, etc. Then redesign the front end to ensure everything is simple and clear.

Repeated design and testing is crucial for us to get this right. 

That also means we need the support-end worked out properly (i.e. how will we induct volunteers to classify/organise messages, and how will we send the messages to the right place, and monitor them, etc.).

To me the project will only be successful if it engages millions of people and brings about a radical difference in the way governance works in India. That goal is unlikely to be achieved through one single final design at this early stage since we don't know the difficulties that will arise along the way.

That doesn't mean we should not do our best right now.

Anyway, I'd rather leave these matters to you and Lala (and others who understand these matters) since I know I'm not going to be able to value-add much at this design stage.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Ok.

Now lalaji, I'd like the texts which would appear when the "Make a
Complaint" and "Talk to us" Tabs will be clicked on the homepage.
Currently I'm doing with tabs and will mail you the code, you can then
change them to images if you want.

I'd be happy if we can jointly agree on the texts that would be
displayed when these tabs are clicked.

[Lalatendu Dash]

Cool. Let us start building this, keeping this in mind that we will have to keep refining in it in future. 

[Lalatendu Dash]

Let me think a bit on the texts and come back. For the time being please put any text there you like. 

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

There's one small problem.

Somehow I'm unable to get the right part of the page working, i.e the
part containing the video, newsroll etc...

The problem is I'm not able to position any block in that region
because the tab-system that I'm using to switch texts when tabs are
clicked is not going on well with tables.

Lalaji, can you manage this positioning of blocks to the right of the
main block without tables? Should I send you the code I've made so
far?

[Lalatendu Dash]

Soumik, what tool you are using? Is it worth trying to use the method that Sanjeev mentioned (creating a word document and saving it as HTML)?

Do send me the code, let me see if I can do anything.

For the time being, would you mind taking out the header text and image from the site please. They don't look very great there.

Cheers,

Lala

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

I've removed them.

I'm not using any tool as such just scribbling some code on notepad.
The point is the structure can easily be figured out in word or
PowerPoint or whatever. The "change of text when tabs/images are
clicked" is the one that cannot be done in word or powerPoint and thus
that requires HTML. I'm sending you the code I've made so far.

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Ah, finally I could get it done. Lalaji I'll send you a more updated
version within a couple of days.

On Apr 29, 9:51 pm, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Sent....you may check it now and comment!

On Apr 30, 6:32 am, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Lalatendu Dash]

Will check and come back.

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

What are we going towards now? Is the main structure decided or not?
Should we stick with WP now or should we design our homepage? If it's
the former, then has anyone got a better theme? If it's the later hen
have we designed it yet? I've mailed the tab-switch code. Is any
editing necessary for that structure, lalaji? How do we proceed now?
The main website is going to be the landing page for all our visitors
so we need to keep it simple and good-looking at the same time.

Pls answer these questions point-wise.

-Soumik

On Apr 21, 11:04 am, Lalatendu Dash <ldash...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On urlwww.cgov.inwe will offer the following tabs
>
>    - Home - The landing page for the site. Will have some details about the
>    entire website, its intent etc.
>    - Govern Yourself! - This tab will deliver all our goodies implemented
>    using ushahidi. This will probably be implemented as a frame, with the
>    target URL for our ushahidi implementation.
>    - Blog (or some other simple term meaning blog). This will host our
>    blogging functionality. We have to design our blogging page structure to
>    address issues like context, spam prevention etc. To ensure that bloggers
>    remain within context, we may have to have 'categories' under which a
>    blogger can post. Let us have a separate thread on which we can pin down
>    the exact features for  blogging.
>    - About - Usual Stuff
>    - Contact Us - Usual stuff
>
> The idea is to provide a single platform, on which both blogging and
> governing features are covered, and user is able to switch between them
> seamlessly.
>
> I agree with Shamik's proposal to have some sort of logo for this site. The
> logo, with probably a collage of some pictures, can sit on the top portion
> of the site all the time. The current picture, if I may say, looks a little
> too heavy, and barren.
>
> Does all these sound sensible?
>
> Cheers,
> Lala

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

I'd defer to Lala. Please wait his response.

--
sanjeev sabhlok
Blog: http://sabhlokcity.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabhlok/

Freedom Team: http://freedomteam.in

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Yes...I'm also waiting for his response. Let's see...

On May 1, 10:42 pm, Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'd defer to Lala. Please wait his response.
>
> On Wed, May 2, 2012 at 3:18 PM, Soumik Bhattacharyya <
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> webdesigner12...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > What are we going towards now? Is the main structure decided or not?
> > Should we stick with WP now or should we design our homepage? If it's
> > the former, then has anyone got a better theme? If it's the later hen
> > have we designed it yet? I've mailed the tab-switch code. Is any
> > editing necessary for that structure, lalaji? How do we proceed now?
> > The main website is going to be the landing page for all our visitors
> > so we need to keep it simple and good-looking at the same time.
>
> > Pls answer these questions point-wise.
>
> > -Soumik
>
> > On Apr 21, 11:04 am, Lalatendu Dash <ldash...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > > On urlwww.cgov.inwewill offer the following tabs

[Lalatendu Dash]

Hi Soumik,

Thanks very much. This is a very good start. Tabbed layout does not look bad at all. In fact, having seen it, I think this might actually be better than having images. Let us have it this way for the time being.

Would suggest a few changes

*. The fourth tab will be 'Talk to others'. Clicking on this tab will display the details of our 'blog', and provide a link to the blog section of our portal.

*. We will add a 5th tab for 'Support CGOV'.  

*. Can we increase the height of the detailed description section please?

*. The Site Video link should be at a prominent position, can we have it where I put it on the wireframe. This will basically a link to a video giving an overview of our portal.

*. Can we add the Search Box and Subscribe to Newsletter boxes where I put it on the wireframe.

*. Can we display the 'partner and support' in the bottom of the page (please refer wireframe). I would like to make this as a marquee, showing the logos of our supporters. Clicking on these logos will open the corresponding website in a separate window.

Do you think these features are doable?

Cheers,

Lala

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

A point I must clarify on this issue -

"Subscribe to newsletter" and poll - both require establishing
database connections. Establishing them via code is done through mysql
(as far as I know), and I don't know MYSQL.

Rest of the things can be done easily.

In this regard, let's get this question answered before proceeding -
would it still be wise to go on with ourselves programming the page
(given the above restrictions), or should we revert back to WP,
because as we know WP can get the above things done with ease....?

Waiting for comments.....

> > > > > On urlwww.cgov.inwewilloffer the following tabs

[Lalatendu Dash]

Hi Soumik,

I think at some point, we will have to write some DB interfacing code, probably using PHP. So if using WP templates is something that restricts us from doing that, then I would rather not use templates at all. Can we write PHP pages that produces dynamic pages according to our wireframe, and use them in our portal? And not bother about WP at all?

MySQL is extremely easy to work on. Do take a look here how to use it with PHP. 

http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/phpmysql

I know some MySQL but no PHP at all. Will see if I can teach myself to be able to build these pages. Meanwhile, does anyone in the group have any experience on PHP/MySQL? If yes then would they mind developing the couple of pages that Soumik mentioned above please? These pages are very simple to develop and should not take much time. 

Cheers,

Lala

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Lalaji, Wp templates, in no way, restrict us from establishing DB
connections. What I said is that in this situation (where we are in
some dearth of php programmers), will it be wise to go without WP?
Because WP's plugins can serve our purposes of a poll and newsletter
with extreme ease - without us having to search for some programmer or
writing out codes.

So my point was should we still design our page by coding them
ourselves or should we get back to WP again?

Also the things we need a programmer for are not pages as such, they
are just a couple of div tags on the homepage. IF ANYONE CAN HELP US
IN THIS REGARD, PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS OVER HERE.

On May 3, 2:48 pm, Lalatendu Dash <ldash...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Soumik,
>

> I think at some point, we will have to write some DB interfacing code,
> probably using PHP. So if using WP templates is something that restricts us
> from doing that, then I would rather not use templates at all. Can we write
> PHP pages that produces dynamic pages according to our wireframe, and use
> them in our portal? And not bother about WP at all?
>
> MySQL is extremely easy to work on. Do take a look here how to use it with
> PHP.
>
> http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/phpmysql
>
> I know some MySQL but no PHP at all. Will see if I can teach myself to be

> able to build these pages.* *Meanwhile, *does anyone in the group have any

> experience on PHP/MySQL? If yes then would they mind developing the couple
> of pages that Soumik mentioned above please? These pages are very simple to

> develop and should not take much time. *
> *
> *

> > > > > > > On urlwww.cgov.inwewillofferthe following tabs

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

I don't know much of php and mysql. JSS, jquery and HTML were all that
I managed to learn in the winter vacation...And with my semster exams
lying just a couple of weeks ahead, it'd be difficult for me to master
new skills in php-mysql in the meantime.

On May 3, 10:10 pm, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesigner12...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> > > > > > > > On urlwww.cgov.inwewillofferthefollowing tabs

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Unfortunately, although I bought a book on PHP last year I've not had time to learn it. I've therefore invited further volunteers at: http://sabhlokcity.com/2012/05/need-volunteers-with-phpmysql-skills-to-progress-work-on-citizens-government/

Hopefully we'll find someone soon.

s

[Mithun Dutta]

I know php MySql to workable levels.. I'm sorry.. I have loads of
catching to do on what's going on with Cgov. But I am in.. My system
is set to work on php mySql as well..

On May 4, 3:53 pm, Sanjeev Sabhlok <sabh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Unfortunately, although I bought a book on PHP last year I've not had time

> to learn it. I've therefore invited further volunteers at:http://sabhlokcity.com/2012/05/need-volunteers-with-phpmysql-skills-t...

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

AH! Couldn't be better! Mithun ji, do you use Wamp?

Okay, let's get to work. Mithunji, you need to create a "Subscribe to
newsletter "Box code. That is, we are structuring the homepage such
that there will be a box for a "subscribe to Newsletter" for our
visitors. So that's one thing that we want you to do. Another thing is
to create a poll. Qsn - "Do you think technological platforms can help
reduce corruption?" Options - "yes and no". After the user casts his
vote the results will be displayed to him. So currently you need to
code these two things.

I think we will need some coding in the footer as well, but that will
need some discussion, so for the time being this much will do. Many
thanks for your support!

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Dear Soumik

Wouldn't it be best to not do these additional bells and whistles at this time but to focus on the key website? You could leave an empty spot on the website for such bells and whistles - to be build after we agree to the overall structure.

I'm still not getting the sense of how the website is going to work. So could we just transform the wireframe into simple html using Word (or whatever) and upload/ check?

I know that there are numerous WP plugins that do what you are requiring (newsletter/poll) and we aren't even sure whether we want these features yet. Therefore it may be more useful to get the basic site up and running and have it tested by everyone before building these relatively "extra" features.

What do you think?

s

--
sanjeev sabhlok
Blog: http://sabhlokcity.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabhlok/

Freedom Team: http://freedomteam.in

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Ok. I had already mailed the main structure to Lalaji with empty boxes
for these things. So after adding the navigation links (which I
haven't yet done in that structure) we can upload that for the time-
being...

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Please send to me. I'll try to upload asap. Want to see the new look and have a further think about it.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

It's just the tab system that i made. Even for a trial we need to
update it further. Will do so after your comments. Sent it.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

I've uploaded (I've renamed index.php as index.php-old) for now. and it is now visible.

Comments as soon as I find some time.

--
sanjeev sabhlok
Blog: http://sabhlokcity.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabhlok/

Freedom Team: http://freedomteam.in

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik

I'm now trying an alternative WP theme and will revert with further comments asap

s

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Soumik

I've spent over 2 hours on this now, and my eyes are hurting. So I'll stop and hand over to you and Lala.

Basically, I think this theme works pretty well for our needs. You can start building the relevant text and also convert the "widgets" below into relevant links (e.g. Our partners), etc. 

I'll leave further development to you and Lala since I'm now convinced we are getting closer to the end the journey, and all this requires is a few hours of serious work to build all relevant links.

Anubhava, you may also wish to check out and fix things.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Ah that's the responsive theme I had installed it earlier (I think I
also mentioned it somewhere here) but did not activate it. Also I had
abandoned it thinking we had too less pages to fill the menu bar at
the top. Now it looks gr8 though...

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

I suggest that once Soumik, Lala and Anubhava have worked on this for the next week, the project team should have a telephone meeting. 

Sabsebolo is used by us (on FTI) for such telephone meetings. If someone on this team can help organise, we should sit on the computer (over the phone) and discuss the questions/ refinements for about an hour next Sunday. That will help me clarify a number of questions that are still in my mind, and we could resolve some of the issues directly during the telephone meeting.

s

[Mithun Dutta]

Yes I have Ampps with DW8. Wordpress has few plugins for newsletter
management http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-email-capture/ |
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/newsletter/ and for voting
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/vote-it-up/ |
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-polls/

For learners here is how to create a newsletter subscribe/unsubscribe
code here..

http://www.supportforums.net/showthread.php?tid=486

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Thanks, Mithun.

I think we have to first set up the main process and see whether there is any uptake, and consider the newsletter as a later "bell and whistle", after we have the basic uptake. Newsletters take a huge amount of effort. 

I'd strongly suggest we focus on key functionalities and closing the loop between a complaint and action (and report-back). If we can do that we would have made a significant breakthrough in India's governance system. If not the other "bells and whistles" may remain unused, anyway.

s

[Lalatendu Dash]

Hi Guys,

My apologies, I am out of station with limited access to net. Please give me little time before I can respond properly.  

I am going to speak to a few of professional web developers about the best and easy way forward and report back asap. 

Thanks,

Lala

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Dear Lala

I'm not quite sure we need to talk to professional web developers at this stage. The first step is to use existing tools to create a fully functional website. I don't see any problem in doing that without designers. This is the conceptual stage.

This is not really a design project, but a functionality project. The key is to make the system work and make it simple for readers/volunteers to understand. And to keep refining it till we get the basic content agreed.

Then we can get a designer to add bells and whistles and make it look nice.

The new theme we are using is (in my view) more than sufficient to get us a fully functional website. What is needed at this stage is that those with knowledge of how this system works, spend some time building necessary content/ offering suggestions/ asking questions.

That's why I'm suggesting a telephone catch-up next weekend, if someone could please coordinate.

s

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

One of the key inputs is a video that needs to explain steps for visitors. The video can be designed on a cartoon system (which I linked earlier) or could be someone speaking and uploaded onto youtube. We can upload on FTI's youtube channel.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Yes, I also agree with Sanjeevji. Now a qsn - how does the user switch
between the ushahidi page and the main website? I mean navigation from
the ushahidi page and our main site is currently a problem.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Dear Soumik

These are the types of questions we should discuss over the phone next week (how about 3 pm IST? - can someone organise a sabsebolo conference call?).

In my view there are two types of users:

a) the average citizen who is ONLY interested in complaining and getting an answer. He doesn't have to access the underlying platform.

b) the volunteers who need to have access to the underlying platform. 

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

I'll be unable next sunday. Actually we can have the discussion and
someone may post the net outcomes in a post over here - it will be
fine for me.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

No problem, let's then do it some other day. It is important to discuss and understand the issues. How is the following weekend? 

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Any day xcept the coming saturday-sunday ( 12th and 13th May) and
24-25th May is
alright with me...

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Let's tentatively book in 11 am IST on 20 May. 

s

--
sanjeev sabhlok
Blog: http://sabhlokcity.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabhlok/

Freedom Team: http://freedomteam.in

[संदीप नारायण शेळके]

Dear All,

I joined the group today. Still trying to read all prevailing post to get informed about the work and progress.
I can join the call on 20 May.

To clarify my understanding:
A visitor should be able to perform following actions:

1. Lodge a complaint
2. Check complaint status
3. View the complaints map.
4. Generate Report on complaints.
   
5. Available opportunities to volunteer.
6. How to sponsor/support
7. Register for volunteering and sponsoring
8. Donate for cause

Development Status:

• Website/portal is in alpha stage
• Functionality is tested in pilot stage
• Wireframe structure is prepared and is under development
• Some WP theme is also being tested
• Need PHP/MySQL developer

My Input:

• Complaint is the main activity. So upon landing to website complaint box should be in front of user to lodge any complete. (sample example should be displayed)
• Major part should be dedicated to first time user. Returning user should be redirected to new page by accepting complaint ID.
  
• I'm a software engineer. but not a web developer but will learn PHP. I know a little bit of MySQL.
• Also lets prepare a document/spreadsheet for tracking the development tasks.
  
• I've started preparing one structure in word document will soon share with you all.

Please guide me to any document which can lead me to better and complete understanding. My apologies if I've repeated any of the suggestions.

Regards,

Sandeep.

[Lalatendu Dash]

OK, let us then build upon the current theme.

[Lalatendu Dash]

Do we need the video in more than one language? May be at least in Hindi and English?

I think we need to maintain a list of work items that volunteers can pick from and work on it. I will create a spreadsheet and share it with the group.

[Lalatendu Dash]

Hi Soumik,

Ushahidi page opens on a new tab. If the user wants to switch between Ushahdi and Cgov portal, they can always select the corresponding tabs. I think it is better this way? What do you think?

[Lalatendu Dash]

20th May is OK with me. Cannot do the following weekend.

I will do the needful to setup the conf call.

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Lalaji, I'll comeback to the naivgation a bit later, for the moment
I'm wanting to seek views of the members over here  - are they ready
to work with the current theme? If you have ANY objections tell us
now. Else we finalize this theme.

[Lalatendu Dash]

Thanks very much Sandeep. We need as many hands and brains as possible. 

Please find my responses inline.

On Sun, May 6, 2012 at 10:38 AM, संदीप नारायण शेळके <sandeep...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear All,

I joined the group today. Still trying to read all prevailing post to get informed about the work and progress.
I can join the call on 20 May.

To clarify my understanding:
A visitor should be able to perform following actions:

1. Lodge a complaint
2. Check complaint status
3. View the complaints map.
4. Generate Report on complaints.
   
5. Available opportunities to volunteer.
6. How to sponsor/support
7. Register for volunteering and sponsoring
8. Donate for cause

All of these. Plus a blog feature where they can talk about their issues, connect up with others who might have similar issues, and the responses they have got so far etc. We will build this blog once we are done with building the core set of functionalities.   

Also please note,  a complainant can always log a complain through SMS, email, and twitter as well.

I think the visitors that we will have to our portal will primarily be of four categories

1. Complainants

2. Report Administrators (People who reviews, geo-code and categorise the complains before publshing them in the portal)

3. Field Volunteers - (People/groups who follow up the issues with the appropriate authorities)

4. Rest of world (Authorities, Media, Citizen groups, NGOs etc)

I am currently working on a sort of flow diagram that hopefully will explain this model better, and that we can use in our website. 

Development Status:

• Website/portal is in alpha stage
• Functionality is tested in pilot stage
• Wireframe structure is prepared and is under development
• Some WP theme is also being tested
• Need PHP/MySQL developer

We also have installed Ushahidi, configured it, and tested the email/text/twitter integration aspects. We need to do 

We have plans of putting some automation/semi-automation in place by which the system can generate and send mails/correspondence for the authorities by looking into the complain database (MySQL) . That will require some DB development work. We should be able to do this work using PHP/MySQL. But that is something we will do after. Our immediate target is to get the system up and running as soon as possible.  

 

My Input:

• Complaint is the main activity. So upon landing to website complaint box should be in front of user to lodge any complete. (sample example should be displayed)
• Major part should be dedicated to first time user. Returning user should be redirected to new page by accepting complaint ID.
  
• I'm a software engineer. but not a web developer but will learn PHP. I know a little bit of MySQL.
• Also lets prepare a document/spreadsheet for tracking the development tasks.
  
• I've started preparing one structure in word document will soon share with you all.

Thanks very much. Let us discuss this in the call. Agree with you about the task list. I am going to put one together. Let us merge it when yours is ready.

 

Please guide me to any document which can lead me to better and complete understanding. My apologies if I've repeated any of the suggestions.

We do have a document that we put together in the beginning but that has gone stale now. I will try to update it and firm up as soon as possible.

[Lalatendu Dash]

I don't have any objection on the current theme. Let us proceed with it keeping in mind that we may have to keep refining it.

Cheers,

Lala

On Sun, May 6, 2012 at 11:40 AM, Soumik Bhattacharyya <webdesig...@gmail.com> wrote:

Lalaji, I'll comeback to the naivgation a bit later, for the moment
I'm wanting to seek views of the members over here  - are they ready

to work with the current theme? If you have ANY objections tell them

now. Else we finalize this theme.

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Quick one: "Do we need the video in more than one language?"

I think we should start off with an English one. We don't know which part of India will first be responsive to our experiment (determined by the density of volunteers on the ground). Once we have some experience we can prepare a local language video.

In the main my suggestion is to try this in metros first - through FB/twitter. That's an English-educated class who will be willing to try out this system. Once we have real experience we can always modify/update our strategy.

The video is actually very simple. Anyone of us can prepare one ("just OK") by dictating to the video camera a prescribed script. All we need is a script.

s

[Lalatendu Dash]

Sandeep,

If it helps, then here is how the whole thing is going to work.

• A complainant sends us a text/email/tweet. The text/email/tweet is uploaded into our portal, and queued up for reporting. In the first phase, we are not going to send any text back to the complainant (to keep our costs down). 
• A report administrator picks up the queued up text, reviews it, geo-codes it so that it can appear as a dot on the map, puts it under the right category, and publishes it. Once published, the complain, and the authorities against whom the complain it made are visible to everyone online
• the field volunteer (or whatever we call them) picks up the report and follows up with the appropriate authority
• The field volunteer works closely with the report manager, and provides regular updates. The report manager might provide intermediate updates to the complainant (may be by return texts/emails etc).
• We will look to put as much automation as we can so that the human dependence is reduced.

Cheers,

Lala

On Sun, May 6, 2012 at 10:38 AM, संदीप नारायण शेळके <sandeep...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Sanjeev Sabhlok]

Just one more step, perhaps:

" Once published, the complain, and the authorities against whom the complain it made are visible to everyone online"

I am hoping that the field volunteers will provide email IDs to the system for specific issues and that these reports will be automatically mailed out to all such volunteers.

Ideally, a volunteer could subscribe to an RSS feed of all reports published in the area in which he/she is interested in, and have the assurance that these have been reported to the relevant authority. Then, the volunteer's job is made simpler: to follow up (periodically) with the local authority and report back publicly.

Anyway, these are some thoughts. Don't know how far any of this canl become operational.

s

[Soumik Bhattacharyya]

Sanjeevji, I think the video would be better if we keep pages with
texts/instructions about actually filing any complaint rather than any
reading of script.