Proposal for Social Entrepreneur API interface and widgets
Andrius Kulikauskas
I propose to build for you an interface and two or more widgets for your
Social Entrepreneur API search engine.
I would first build the interface as a PHP page "index.php" which reads
the JSON results and displays them with a related CSS style sheet
"layout.css" The two files could be placed in any directory and would
work automatically so long as PHP 5.2 or a newer version is installed.
I have already created a rough draft, see:
http://www.worknets.org/software/entrepreneurs/index.php?search=water
As you can see, the search function is working, and I have started
laying out the results with a stylesheet:
http://www.worknets.org/software/entrepreneurs/layout.css
Here is the source of the index.php file:
http://www.worknets.org/software/entrepreneurs/source.txt
and here is the script I use to generate the stylesheet:
http://www.worknets.org/software/entrepreneurs/sourcemakecss.txt
My next steps would be to perfect the layout so that it looks just like
the mockup you provided (or as you request). I would make sure that it
looks right on different browsers, including Internet Explorer and
Firefox. Then I need to create all the functionality you have requested,
including the list view, the comboboxes for ordering in different ways,
going through pages of results, and advanced search options. I need to
make sure that the photos and the text always show well. This is all
straightforward.
I can complete the above interface for $2,000 and create two basic
widgets (based on variations of my work above) for an additional $1,000
total. I imagine that the two basic widgets would be:
* one for fundraisers's websites
* one to go alongside news articles
and would contain the relevant fields and layout as you suggest or agree.
I recommend the following relationship as best for me. Set a budget
between $3,000 and $5,000 and have me work for you at $40 an hour. I
guarantee to complete the following milestones:
* the above interface for $2,000
* two widgets for $3,000
and it may take me less time. (Note: the work so far has taken me 25 hours).
Any extra hours I would spend on building all manner of widgets as you
request. I could:
* customize the interface for your various partners (so that they fit
with the design, color, layout of their websites).
* help others get the interface up and running (although it's quite simple)
* create Facebook widgets
* create Ning widgets
* create Tile stack widgets http://www.tilestack.com
* tools for people to manage and share their own lists of entrepreneurs
* a map based widget for geographical navigation
* an issue based widget (based on associations I would mine from the
"description" texts in the database)
* publish the database onto DVD for distribution off-the-web (as in
Africa) for viewing on DVD players, mobile phones, digital cameras (our
lab has worked this out)
* more ideas would come up
Working on these latter projects I can create a lot of functionality and
open up a lot of possibility without having to necessarily completely
polish everything (as with the interface and the two widgets) but pursue
different directions as you prefer.
I would report on my work-in-progress every day that I do work.
I would complete work on the interface and two widgets by November 23
and all of my work (if you want me to do more) by December 7 or as you
prefer.
I would work openly and engage others who might advise or be interested.
I would be interested to continue developing these tools even after you
have no more funds available.
My work would be in the Public Domain.
I am very excited that I might work for you!
Andrius
Andrius Kulikauskas
Minciu Sodas
http://www.ms.lt
m...@ms.lt
+370 699 30003
skype:minciusodas
I share my proposal with my lab's working group "Learn How To Learn"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learnhowtolearn/
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Project: Social Entrepreneur Search widget
Completion Date: Functional first pass by Aug 31, 2009. Additional
versions requested for during Mozilla Service Week (mozillaservice.org)
The Social Entrepreneur API is the first open source database of vetted
social entrepreneurs using real-time feeds of social entrepreneurs
awarded recognition from the leading funders in the field including
Skoll Foundations, Poptech, Civic Ventures, Draper Richards, and Schwab
Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. More info:
http://socialentrepreneurapi.org
This project is to create a search widget providing access to the data
in the social entrepreneur database via an open source api calls and
protocals based on the Social Actions API.
This widget will be showcased on Social Edge, the online community for
social entrepreneurs and a program of the Skoll Foundation, and on the
Social Entrepreneur API portal. It will also be available for anyone to
grab/add to their site. Additional widgets will be developed in the
future, but the intent is for this widget to be the primary general
purpose search tool for the dataset.
Attached are mock-ups of the desired widget showing the default
presentation and the presentation with advanced search options.
The default format has the following features and functions:
* Keyword search box
* Link to advanced search options
* View options - default - gallery view with pictures. List view would
omit or tiny thumbnail pictures and minimize text presented into 1-2
lines of text
* Sort by options - default - relevance (based on API identified results
for frequency of term in profile). Additional search options are Social
Entrepreneur (alpha sort on social entrepreneur last name, then first
name fields), Organization (alpha sort on organization name field), and
Funder (alpha sort by Funder name field)
* Individual profile boxes – social entrepreneur title field (bolded);
next line organization; next line intro-text field and then first 140
char of related text (based on key word) text. If no intro-text
available, slide up related text.; blank line; Awarded by line – this
includes funder and date funded – we may replace the funder name text
with thumbnail of funder logo
* Show 6 social entrepreneurs per page – preferably with option to show
more (pulldown menu – show 6, 24, 48 per page) and show how many pages
of results – with numbered next page links. Option to show list view
would include probably 20 per page – defer to web developer recommendation)
* Let’s add small text “Learn more.” near SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR SEARCH
with clickable link to http://socialentrepreneurapi.org
Note that to display images – the widget developer will have to resize
photos (from disparate funder sizes and resolutions) to standard pixel
size and resolution. Please maintain best quality resolution during
compression/scaling.
The advanced search format opens up a section above search results with
all fields checked by default (the user may uncheck those they do not
wish to include in their refined search). Sections for advanced search
include:
* Funded by –currently a list of 5 funders but this will likely scale to
a dozen or possibly more in the future. (For the immediate future, 3
funders are close to joining)
* By region –current list provided has 7 regions identified (may add 8th
– middle east) Note that this is based on a roll up from countries in
the api. Currently the plan is for country specific search to be handled
through the keyword search
* By issue – current list provided has 8 issue areas – also rolled up by
the api
Note that these searches currently refine or filter the keyword search
results. There is no “browse” by selected filters. If this is an easy
addition, please let us know.
Full description of API and field names/descriptions will be provided
upon request.
Future widget development includes:
* Development of different size versions of the search widget (standard
sizes for 1 column, etc)
* Development of versions with list view default
* Development of browse widgets with topic specific search results – to
provide contextual lists of social entrepreneurs (next to articles on
microfinance, health etc.)
* Customizable widgets
This volunteer project is managed by Peter Deitz/Christine Egger at
Social Actions and Jill Finlayson at Social Edge. To get started, please
reply all with an indication of whether you can have a first pass ready
by 8/31/2009.
All the best,
Peter
Andrius Kulikauskas
eliminate the "Submit Query" button, perhaps with Javascript. That's
rather straightforward. Andrius
Christine Egger
by email ~
Christine