pcplantdb

[Stephanie Gerson <sgerson@stanfordalumni.org>]

howdy yalls,

A few comments:

Richard wrote, “I think the problem for me is that when I talked to Jim 
it really brings up the questions which we have not thrashed through 
ourselves yet. Do we share a tight enough vision of what the project will 
be.”  However, as with Permaculture, every problem is a solution – and 
these conversations with Jim turned out to be the perfect impetus to get 
us (er, you guys) considering these critical questions.  When asked what 
next, Richard also wrote, “Finding out what the key questions we need to 
ask ourselves are” – looks like Jim certainly helped us out with that 
one!

I Love reading your posts (even though I don’t understand a word of most 
of it) – and feel lucky to be collaborating with you all.

And I agree, if we develop something simple initially and save “bells and 
whistles” until later, then at least we will have something concrete to 
show if/when we apply for additional funding.  The next funding round for 
the Whole Systems Foundation (very interested in our project, but wanted 
more information) is in the fall – and it would be wonderful to have 
something to show them by then.

Someone mentioned that it would be prudent to know what our users want.  
And once we get started, we should definitely send a message to all 
permie-related lists describing the projects and asking about their 
needs.

Chad wrote, “I'm starting to fuzz out on what the front end would 
actually be anymore.  I would be interested in hearing what you think the 
front end is going to do…”  Fuzz out on the front end?  (Uh-oh, here 
comes Stephanie with her dream again.)  At the most fundamental level, I 
see the message matching the medium.  So if the message is inter-
relationships between plants (information conducive to designing 
meaningful and beneficial relationships between components of a 
landscape), then the medium must be able to visibly present these inter-
relationships.  To me, it doesn’t matter if we use TouchGraph or Thinkmap 
(or any GBI for that matter) – I would just stress that the user 
interface (front end) allow people to think, learn, and create in terms 
of relationships.  I have always wished there were a web-making authoring 
tool, and that is somewhat how I imagine this becoming…

Someone wrote (sorry, I lost who it was), “My original thinking is that 
even though it was billed as a half-time job it would actually make more 
sense to work full time until much of the coding bit was done and then 
refine/maintain as authoring began. After the design considerations are 
finalized it seems like not much else can happen until we have some alpha 
level product to start playing with.  In the initial proposal there are 
two people Paula Westmoreland and Robin Williamson listed as subject 
matter experts. It's my opinion that maybe authoring should be postponed 
at this phase of the project until more financing becomes available.  It 
is also my own belief that we will get the best/most content by creating 
a tool that solicits it from the general public and not by trying to do 
it in house.  I think it makes the most sense to focus this initial 
funding on design and development.”  I completely agree.  Paula and 
Robin?  What do you say?

Finally, I will also be applying for funding from the Lindbergh 
Foundation.  Can all of you please check their website (http://
www.lindberghfoundation.org/) and/or their grant application (http://
www.lindberghfoundation.org/grants/grantapp2005.html) and let me know if 
there is anything specific you have come up with in these past few weeks 
that I should add?  Or, I can simply send out the application once I am 
finished with it, and solicit feedback.  Either way, I’d really 
appreciate your input.

Allright.  Thanks for discussion…

Peace
*Stephanie


+++++++++++++++
Stephanie Gerson
sgerson@stanfordalumni.org
(c) 415.871.5683


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