By dorn on
Topic Type
Idea

Some ideas about how we might improve the structure of the tools pages without loosing flexibility and ease of use.

Files
Slide1.JPG
Slide2.JPG
Slide3.JPG
Slide4.JPG
Slide5.JPG
Slide6.JPG
tabs
Wiki
documentation
skills
user manual
commerce
Forums
Online Farm Hack Tools
Forum comment

One possible way to organize "Related Tools" is as wiki-style, in-text links within the "Documentation" category. This may render the "Related Tools" redundant as it is conceptualized here. However, I could also see a role for a graphic interface in the related tools section. This interface would show a web of relationships between tools, forums, people, skills, and commerce. Don't know if it's worthwhile to build something like this but it seems that if we are going to show Related Tools outside of Documentation, we may want to do it in a visual way.
Forum comment

Looks like a real improvement. I love the Farm Hack concept, but I feel like there is bit of confusion on how to use this website. I would think an improved navigation experience and some explanatory text about wiki and how to use this site would be a more pressing concern in terms of gathering more users and audience. For instance, I don't need all the subscription widgets on the right column on this page. Also, why have the +newtopic button up on the top there? Why would I do that right now while looking at a topic? And I don't need the Google analytics counter either, it is just extra data I don't have the need for. It all feels a bit frantic in the right column.
Forum comment

Improving the user experience of the site is emerging from our [Organizers Calls](http://farmhack.org/tools/organizers-call) and web development conversations as a high priority. All are welcome to join in the collaborative development and brainstorming processes at any time. We have a developer working on a usability study for the site at the moment. The outcome will be more helpful feedback like what you're providing here. It will ultimately result in the FH site being easier to use and more accessible. We're also talking about automating "Welcome" messages when users register and when they make their first post. These would users the documentation and usability guidance which should be more apparent. We do have documentation guidance in the [Tool Template](http://farmhack.org/tools/tool-template-wiki) but it may not be that accessible. The [getting started](http://farmhack.org/wiki/getting-started) page at the top of the home screen may help with that but perhaps it needs to be made more readily available and interactive. Thanks again for the comments. *Improve by collaboration, grow by participation*