Forum Live Chat...

[Sexc86]

Gday Winode & mods,

I thought a excellent additional feature to the forum would be a live chat / msg system. Similar to that on facebook. Either setup to show every registered user online.. or customised by the user to a select group of friends. I believe this would be great as it would make pm'ing alot simpler and quicker where there wouldnt be mass pms constantly stored in inboxs takeing up space etc. Not to mention it would make organisation of events alot simpler and would keep all simple basic question type threads off the forum (as they could be discussed via live chat)

Now would be a great time to look into this due to all the upgrades in progress at the moment. I hope you consider this, or get some feedback on a wider scale as i beleive it would be an asset to the forum.

Thanks in advance

Regards Lyle

[wynode]

Hi Lyle,

Thanks for the thought. I don't see one that is 'integrated with vBulletin" happening due to performance and security reasons. However a third party one might be an option (it will have not be integrated with the forum though as a result).




Now would be a great time to look into this due to all the upgrades in progress at the moment. I hope you consider this, or get some feedback on a wider scale as i beleive it would be an asset to the forum.



Actually now is probably the worst time as I'm full to my ears catching up / fixing things. But point noted :)

[Sexc86]

Gday mate,

Sorry i am slightly IT retarded if you could explain on a simple level. Is there anyway to incorporate a live forum chat similar to that of facebook? Or is it possible to change to software similar to what facebook uses etc

Lyle

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

This does work on other forums but in my opinion it usually ends up:

Shit
Spam thread replica

Just putting forth my thoughts, if it was implemented into Ozhonda I'd be delighted but honestly won't use it.

[wynode]

Gday mate,

Sorry i am slightly IT retarded if you could explain on a simple level. Is there anyway to incorporate a live forum chat similar to that of facebook? Or is it possible to change to software similar to what facebook uses etc

Lyle

Changing software isn't an option unfortunately. It's a HUGE task to even switch to a competing product (such as IPB) which would be one of the 'easiest' to switch to. In a nutshell, it it were to happen, there won't be a link between the chat software and the forum (ie you couldn't login to the chat software using your forum username (not autmoatically anyway).

[Sexc86]

This does work on other forums but in my opinion it usually ends up:

Shit
Spam thread replica

Just putting forth my thoughts, if it was implemented into Ozhonda I'd be delighted but honestly won't use it.

Spam would never be a problem as most conversation would be on a single user to user basic. Similar to that of MSN messenger. I think it could be a good move. Think about all the times you send PMs that contain 3 words... or all the times you have to post a whole new thred just to ask a basic question (like - what size thred is this bolt ?)... a live chat feature would solve it all. It seems like it could be a bit of work initially but would reap long term benefits.

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Lyle, just so you know mate, not trying to shut the idea down, just giving objections and my thoughts and experiences here mate.


Spam would never be a problem as most conversation would be on a single user to user basic. Similar to that of MSN messenger.

fact is though that once you've Pm'd someone enough wouldn't you just add them to your msn anyway??

Frankly after I pm for a while I add them to chat on msn.


I think it could be a good move. Think about all the times you send PMs that contain 3 words... or all the times you have to post a whole new thred just to ask a basic question (like - what size thred is this bolt ?)... a live chat feature would solve it all. It seems like it could be a bit of work initially but would reap long term benefits.

It is a good potential move.

Frankly I don't picture the average bear (ozhonda user) sending a 3 word Pm, I know I don't and if they do then I'm going to glue my palm to my face.

Sadly I envision people like our very own Lan and Bob being hassled greatly for details and stupid questions that CAN be cured with a search and guess what?

poof, no more experts really popping around.

Like with the Ozhonda wiki (Speaking of which Wynode, any news? always happy to lend a hand) its alot of initial work, but imo the payout is alot greater then putting a live chat in, thats my opinion though.

[Sexc86]

^

I know you not trying to "shut down" the idea.

The two most regular sites i visit are ozhonda & facebook. This is why i thought ozhonda could benefit of a chat system similar to that of facebooks. I know it may be easier said then done as i by no means know the technicalities that goes on behind the sceens to make it all happen.

However in my experience everything is always more efficient when you have communication that is free flowing.

As for PMs. I have on countless occasions had situations as follows

PM - how much for the wheels
PM - make me an offer
PM - 500
PM - NO
PM - Whats your lowest

Etc etc etc...

As for 'guru' members being harrassed... this goes on anyway through Pm's and forum chit-chat. A live chat cold solve these sort of problems... not to mention syphering through forum chit chat on hot topic threads just to try find some relative content. This would also leads into takeing a massive weight off the Moderators shoulders... as there wont be as much spam to delete.

I think the best way a live chat would work, would be if it were directly intergrated into the forum/homepage for Registered users only. IE. You open ozhonda as a guest - nothing happens. You log in and a side bar on the screen brings up a chat menu and shows all the other registered users online. Insted of sending a PM via the mail systems.. send it through live chat. Another user giving you the shits - have a block function. Have a fuction to add multiple people into a convo to discuss things like cruise locations and times... and then use this info on forum threds.

Or go a different way, similar to how we have the friend / buddy system at the moment. How it shows if your added friends are online or not etc. Takeing that one step further and involving it into a live chat but insted of seeing every user online make it choice selective where you have the ability to add and decline your friends etc Similer to facebook / MSN. That way people arnt forced to use it or change their way of forum life... but the option is there to use for the future...

[geeang]

^

I know you not trying to "shut down" the idea.

The two most regular sites i visit are ozhonda & facebook. This is why i thought ozhonda could benefit of a chat system similar to that of facebooks. I know it may be easier said then done as i by no means know the technicalities that goes on behind the sceens to make it all happen.

However in my experience everything is always more efficient when you have communication that is free flowing.

As for PMs. I have on countless occasions had situations as follows

PM - how much for the wheels
PM - make me an offer
PM - 500
PM - NO
PM - Whats your lowest

Etc etc etc...

As for 'guru' members being harrassed... this goes on anyway through Pm's and forum chit-chat. A live chat cold solve these sort of problems... not to mention syphering through forum chit chat on hot topic threads just to try find some relative content. This would also leads into takeing a massive weight off the Moderators shoulders... as there wont be as much spam to delete.

I think the best way a live chat would work, would be if it were directly intergrated into the forum/homepage for Registered users only. IE. You open ozhonda as a guest - nothing happens. You log in and a side bar on the screen brings up a chat menu and shows all the other registered users online. Insted of sending a PM via the mail systems.. send it through live chat. Another user giving you the shits - have a block function. Have a fuction to add multiple people into a convo to discuss things like cruise locations and times... and then use this info on forum threds.

Or go a different way, similar to how we have the friend / buddy system at the moment. How it shows if your added friends are online or not etc. Takeing that one step further and involving it into a live chat but insted of seeing every user online make it choice selective where you have the ability to add and decline your friends etc Similer to facebook / MSN. That way people arnt forced to use it or change their way of forum life... but the option is there to use for the future...

It's a great idea, but there is no software currently that would be able to create an integrated chat system with Vbulletin like Facebook.
The Facebook system is a completely different type of software - but then they can afford to create their own unique software and messaging systems.

We have wynode, who is running the entire site useing Vbulletin (and he's doing a great job for a lone ranger).
Facebook is a multi-million dollar enterprise that can afford to have teams creating and maintaining specialised software.

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea and I'm sure I would use it heaps to make things like buying/selling easier, but it's just not a viable idea unless you have a crack team of coders creating a whole new program (but even then it wouldn't be integrated, you'd have to download and use it separately).

[wynode]

Yes, unfortunately we don't have a bunch of programmers ready to start programming :)

Option is for a third party application however that will most probably not fully integrate with the forums (unless vB decide to release something that does).

There are mods over at vb.org but I'm reluctant to install/use them unless it is really necessary.

[DC2-PWR]

Just get the guys msn man and chat him up over there,

PLUS he might have a webcam for you ;)