The Wisdom of Crowds (WOC) theory does not mean that people are smart in groups , they’re not. Anyone who’s seen an angry mob knows it. But crowds, presented with the right challenge and the right interface, can be wise. When it works, the crowd is wiser, in fact, than any single participant.
Topic: Community
Coaching a Community
A key to running successful “social networking sites” is to remember that they’re just communities. All communities, online or off, have one thing in common: members want to belong, to feel like part of something larger than themselves. Communicating effectively, setting clear and specific expectations, mentoring contributors, playing with trends, offering rewards, and praising liberally (but not excessively) can harness your members’ innate desires, and nurture great content in the process.
In Defense of Readers
As web designers, we concern ourselves with how users move from page to page, but forget the needs of those whose purpose is to be still. Learn the design techniques that create a mental space for reading. Use typographic signals to help users shift from looking to reading, from skimming along to concentrating. Limit distractions; pay attention to the details that make text readable; and consider chronology by providing transitions for each of the three phases of the online reading experience.
Ten Years
When Google was little more than a napkin sketch and the first dot-com boom was not even a blip, we started a magazine for people who make websites. Celebrate Web Dev Notes‘s first decade. Join Zeldman for a look back at the way we were—and why we were that way. Find out what we’ve done and who did it with us, peek into our process, and get a clue about what’s next.
Putting Our Hot Heads Together
The web is a conversation, but not always a productive one. Web discussions too often degenerate into whines, jabs, sour grapes, and one-upmanship. How can we transform discussion forums and comment sections from shooting ranges into arenas of collaboration?
Community: From Little Things, Big Things Grow
Q. What technology do you need to build the next Flickr? A. Trick question. What you need to build the next Flickr is people. George Oates, a key member of the core team that shaped the Flickr community, shares lessons that can help you grow yours.
How to Be a Great Host
Online communities can take time to get off the ground. Like small businesses, most fail to thrive due to poor planning and support. John Gladding explains how anyone who can host a great party can start a successful forum.
The ALA Primer Part Two: Resources For Beginners
In part one of this series, Erin Lynch suggested a few good starting points for those new to ALA. In part two, Erin and the rest of the ALA crew suggest resources for those new to the whole industry.
The ALA Primer: A Guide for New Readers
New to Web Dev Notes? Welcome! ALA‘s own Erin Lynch suggests a few good places to start reading.
Community Creators, Secure Your Code!
Don’t be like MySpace. Protect your community site from malicious cross-site scripting attacks. Part one of a two-part series.
