The small group meeting on Monday night with a few Tufts students and two UMass Boston students was very interesting and productive. It was excellent to hear from the UMass Boston students how they had used the software in the past, and what their goals were for the future. It seems as though their use of the mapping technology is similar and different to ours in many ways, and out goals and outcomes are very different. They have focused on a small community in Roxbury and have made very personal connections with the community through their work. They have many fewer 'nodes', but their ties to each are much stronger. This is a main point that I see our final goals differing in. UMass Boston intends to maintain these 'strong connections' to each node on the map. On the other hand, I believe that we envisioned our map and website acting independently (as possible) from our initial ground work, with each node taking ownership for itself, and the site being used as a resource.
One of the most interesting ideas that the students from UMass Boston expressed, that I don't think that we even touched upon was the possibility of exporting the map or an certain nodes connections to an outside source, such as a private website. Many organizations, businesses etc have an exported Google Map, listing their location, but also allowing viewers to interact and get themselves directions there. It is not just a link to Google Maps, but an integrated piece of the site. If an organization liked the map concept, I think it would be great if they wanted to export it to their site, publicizing not only our site, but their connections within the community.
Another important idea that came up were making the site accessible to all in the community, especially in language. How to make the site accurately multi-lingual is something we need to explore.
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Although UMASS Boston has fewer nodes, their connections to the nodes are much stronger. I think that this is more important than having several nodes on a map like Tufts. Although it's great that we have lots of nodes covering the map, I think the reliability of these organizations is much less than the nodes on the UMASS map because we have just built very limited (if any) connection with the organizations that we contacted. Each person probably spent about 20 min max in contacting the person and generating a node. Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising if people didn't have interest in the map to stay a part of it.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of having a Google Map type thing on organization's websites is very creative and useful. Additionally, it would be a clever marketing tactic, for other organizations to use the map and get themselves listed on it. This could help to increase the number of people using the map.
As far as language is concerned, I feel that's a far off idea considering we need to first get the map up and running, with all the glitches fixed.
As we talked in class about your meet with some UMass Boston students, we have different goals. The idea that UMass Boston has with each organization on focusing on having "strong bond" is very crucial. This means that they actually know at least a representative of the organizations and really understand what each and every one of them are doing, including their ultimate goal.
ReplyDeleteI suggest that we should start having similar tactics in approaching the organizations in Medford/Somerville community. Yes, it might take more time and effort. However, I truly believe that we would get more "quality" information and truly understand each and every organization in our community (that we chose to be part of our connection)