Prototype Future

[Peter Childs]

Seeing as Prototype has gone quite again, If we have any future as a
group we really need to start making a bit more noise.

Do people want to meet up and discuss what we want to next? If so when
and where?

What projects are people up to?

Oh and Ed, any news on our room or do we need to look at clearing date.

Peter.

[Rodney Buckland]

Peter et al

I have to say that the lack of news concerning resolution of the multiple confusions arising from the hand-over from Matt to whoever is rather concerning.  We have a job to do in supporting the growth of ICM with a new wave of innovators. Let's get on with it! 

As previously advised, I have several out-reach projects in gestation and no-less that seven potential new members. All I can offer them at the moment is uncertainty.

I would very much like to meet up with anyone who has any responsibility for the current impasse.

All the best

RAB

(Not Regulus Arcturus Black, Book 6, Harry Potter)

[Edmond Lepedus]

Peter and Rodney,

I'm sorry for the lack of updates regarding the status of Protoype, but I am afraid I have nothing new to report. Farley Norman has passed the matter up to the relevant decision makers and will be in touch with any developments. 

I am available tomorrow after midday, if you want to discuss anything over the phone, and we can also have another go at an IRC meet up. 

-Ed

Sent from my iPhone

[Peter Childs]

I think we need to look at prototypes core and work out how we can build projects, encourage grass roots innovation and the group with or without the room.

Without this we can never think of being able to be strong enough to maintain and use a space to its full potential.

I want to try and keep this discussion away from icm. If we can get the room back then wonderful.  But if we do we have to ensure we are strong enough use it to its full potential.

If we can prove the concept we have more chance in getting space back either via icm or from else where.

Peter

[Edmond Lepedus]

I agree, and I think we should start by developing a set of tools to better support our activities. This could eventually become an open-source starter kit for community maker-spaces, which should facilitate the creation and smooth running of other similar groups. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Peter Childs]

Hmmm.

I'm thinking an idiot proof version of irc that any one can do.

Chat has become normal on the web but this is most 1to1 not the many to many most collaboratory projects need. 

Google hangouts are too technically complex and need good computers.  it needs to be simple.  More irc like. Maybe some mailing list or forumn like features.

Needs to work well on a smart phone.

Peter

[Edmond Lepedus]

That would certainly be part of it, but other things would be required as well. Eg:

Project logs

Calendar/reminders

One to one/one to many/ many to many asynchronous communication

One to one/one to many/ many to many synchronous chat

Announcements & polls

Dropbox/google drive etc integration for collaboration

Donation/ecommerce support

Blogs (hosted and syndicated)

- off the top of my head :P -

All this would be delivered via an interactive website, but we would also want to facilitate mobile use, either through web app or native apps. 

-ed

Sent from my iPhone

[Peter Childs]

Software should do one job and do out well.  Fine have a good method to plug them together but bloat should be avoided at all cost.

Peter

[Edmond Lepedus]

I agree in principle, but an effective group is going to need most if not all of those functions, and tying them together would be preferable to using multiple platforms.  

Sent from my iPhone

[Peter Childs]

Modules.  Within a framework. Preferably a framework that already excits.  So we don't need to start again. 

Peter

[Edmond Lepedus]

Well, Django looks like a good web application framework, and it's all python, so it's object oriented and modular. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Peter Childs]

Hmm ruby on rails would work too.

How to host.  As many hosting services limit what you can use.  If we use python or ruby we're not using the standard lamp stack.

Peter

[Edmond Lepedus]

We can probably have a word with Dan Shearer from Bytemark in Canterbury - I know they were rolling out scalable virtual instances where you can install whatever you like. 

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