Live chat for The HBS Group

[michael stevenson]

I have another idea! How many of you members would like to see a live chatroom feature added to the board? You have to admit it would be a great way to communicate more information faster than just posting. Plus I think members could get to know each other better. What do you think? Charles, I don't know if it's possible but maybe you could find out.

Michael

[Justin Snodgrass]

This might be a nice option Charles. Members could plan meeting times to get help with building item X and such. There are some good php chat scripts that are easy to set up and that could act independently from the boards. Not that you don't already have enough going on with the forum

I would be willing to set it up and host it at my web space if people would use it and you like the idea.

-Justin

[michael stevenson]

Right on Justin!

[Justin Snodgrass]

Here is just a quick set up of how it could look and be. It is that easy. I would have to look into customizing it, but that shouldn't be too bad. We could give it a test run anyway Charles. Up to you. Only issue is that I don't think that it could be integrated with the HBS member usernames and passwords. That would probably be better anyway. KISS principle right.

Just type in a user name (no password) and click chat. It is just a test set up...

Link removed by admin

[michael stevenson]

I just tried the room. Works great! Come on guys check it out!

Link removed by admin

Michael

[Tom Wills]

I'm not sure, chatting seems a little redundant for me. We're all in different timezones, have different schedules, and aren't always free. Isn't it better to just rely on the board? More hits means more possible solutions or comments. Plus, with the amount of members on here, within a day almost every post has an answer, so timeliness of postings isn't a big deal either.

Chatting off the board also seems good, and is something I enjoy doing, but I just think that having a HBS chat just isn't necessary.

[MikkoWilson]

A chat is usefull for fast fluries, and might be usefull for the saloon.

However I think that the forum is a better place to discuss anything on topic. Things that happen in chat woudl be lost with no archive. I like the idea of a forum where we can all log on and have our input without having to worry about dooing it in real time. - Thanks to the structure of the bulletin board / forum system it is easy to backtrack threads and take part in them in a totally non linear fasion whiel remaingin organized. All this is lost in a live chat.

- Mikko

[Justin Snodgrass]

I see your points. I'm not sure how I feel honestly. Maybe it could just serve as a place to say hi in real-time. Have to see what the oters and Charles say I guess.

[Wade Francom]

There is a diference between a chatroom and a forum.

Forums are good for topics you don't mind sharing, or wqnt to throw out a question for anyone to answer, and have no time constraint to the conversation...and you don't mind the conversation getting way off topic by the time you get back to it a couple hours later.

PM"s are good if you want to talk to an individual member off the forum. I have used PM's quite alot, but again... a conversation is not real-time based here.

I've had many occasions where I've been on-line, know another particular person is online, and have a question specifically for that person. A chatroom (s) are built specifically so you can carry on a conversation real-time, between you and those you invite into it. HBS seems to have the "posting" side of on-line conversations pretty well covered, but when I go to ask a member that's online a specific question, on machining for example, I have to PM him and wait for him to see his message notification.

Whether on chatting on HBS, or through exterior means...I for one see a great value in a chatroom. So Justin, keep that chatroom there for the time being, I say...

[Charles King]

Cannot comment on this issue at this time guys. Lots of things are happening at once, too fast. One thing at a time. Chat rooms....mmmm Not sure on intergrating it with the forum but it's a suggestion. Me and the guys  have to dawn on it.

No promises. Nice and easy.

[Justin Snodgrass]

Charles, is it okay with you if I leave the test chat room up (link above)? Just so folks can take a look at it.

-Justin

[Trevor Crump]

I am not a chat user, and being in the time zone I live, I don't see an advantage with it. BUT it is up to the majority as to whether they wish live chat.

[Brett A. Noe]

It's up to the majority if the WANT it. It's up to Charles as to whether it's attached to the forum!

[Trevor Crump]

It's up to the majority if the WANT it. It's up to Charles as to whether it's attached to the forum!

Yes.... good point.

[Kevin Clark]

This issue I believe was discussed many moons ago by those that make up the advisory board, moderators and administrators to this forum. It’s not a new subject and it’s also not going to happen anytime in the foreseeable future. There are a number of reasons why we believe a chat room is not a benefit to the HBS board. A few of those include the inability to moderate discussion, conversations are not archived and therefore only benefit those involved in the discussion at that time, we already have enough to do keeping the board running, and my favorite… the ability to chat with another member is already there! It’s only a click away.

Incase you hadn’t noticed you can place your AIM, MSN, YIM or ICQ address in your profile, as many of you have, and the icons will appear underneath your name/avatar on every post you make. It’s a great way just to say “hey” to somebody if you see they’re online without posting a thread.

The HBS board has come a long way in the past 5 years and there are directions we would like to grow in as time permits us. The messaging system has served us well over the years and is the backbone of the knowledge that we have accumulated and share with everyone that visits us. So for now we’ll just keep doing what we do best… posting messages.

Kevin