SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS FROM TORILL

Hi,
I just want to start sharing some initial thoughts about a communication system for ISECN. Nothing final, just something to start the process!

As you know, we will get one page on the IUHPE domain. This will have to be webmastered by the same professional firm that do the IUHPE site. So, it will not be easy for us to do changes here, like adding blogs, links, updates etc. Therefore, I suggest that the content on this page should be of a stable kind, about the mission of ISECN etc- it should be friendly, inviting and looking like we mean business at the same time.

This first page could lead to another page that we edit ourselves, on another server. I have looked a bit into this, it will not be hard to do. To have a really good site we would have to pay between $30-$120 a year. This would give us a good domain name and good functions on the page. We could have countless subsites, and we could link to blogs etc. So, this is an alternative to just having blogs. Anyway, I believe it would give us far greater flexibility to let the IUHPE page lead to some place that we can easily edit and change.

As for content, I think we have already been talking about many of the possibilities. I believe the various regions should have their own subsites/blogs. These sites could connect networks in the region, inform about events, education, local challenges etc. They could be in the appropriate languages, which could handle part of the language equity challenge.

I also believe we should have a site with a really good and well organised link collection, helping people access good online HP resources. I am currently working with a project mapping such resources, so I could develop this into such a site.

I also wonder whether we should have a site with abstracts from scientific work by members - posted together with contact information. This could help connect people with the same research interests.

We also need to think about communication 'off-line'. This is a challenge - how to reach hp workers in regions with poor data accessibility, or with poor economy. Of course, as already discussed, P&E is distributed to all IUHPE members. So, a section in each issue for a network update would be one of the easiest ways. But I believe we should look more into which information needs this 'off-line' group would have, to be able to assess how we can meet them.

These thoughts leave me with some issues that we need to look into:
* Are blogs or home pages most convenient, or a combination of both?
* Who delivers the best blog options?
* Who delivers the best home page options?
* Who delivers the best options for discussion groups?
* What should the content on the IUHPE page be?
* Can we afford a page fee for a good home page?
* What are the information needs of the 'off-line' community? and -
* How can we meet it?

Eagerly awaiting more thoughts! Let's play with ideas!

Torill