Forum: A medium of open discussion or voicing of ideas.
I suggest creating multiple forums for each specific goal. Forums can be linked where appropriate, but also exclusive in content in order to achieve a concentrated in-depth discussion of a specific topic.
If we use Usenet as research in to how people use online forums, we will find the following are the main goals of forum users:
From this knowledge we can begin to design new kinds of online forums that best accomplish these goals.
To share and discuss ideas for personal reasons, (eg. enjoyment, study of a subject, practice in verbal discourse, …etc.)
Verbal (written text with some typography)
By topic and submission titles. Submissions are linked by response. Threads should not be limited to a linear mode, as some users my wish to respond to older submissions.
By subjective qualities (eg. interesting, funny, ...etc.)
To compare arguments on a subject in order to realize a conclusion.
Well defined verbal and chart content. All content will be restricted to valid deductive argument structures.
By article content and article relationships within argument structure.
By logic, relevance, accuracy, clarity, and usefulness.
To share and collect resources in digital form.
Web standard files, (eg. Jpeg, gif, wav, mpg, txt, doc, pdf, ...etc.)
File type, size, content description and content characteristics.
Accuracy of content description
Any user may submit a content description, including the author. Content may be anything from images to music to software to recipes.
To find answers to specific questions, and to develop a good reputation in ones field.
Verbal with some multimedia.
By topic and question.
Popularity of question, and effectiveness of answer.
To buy, sell and trade goods.
Form, chart, and some multimedia.
By taxonomy of goods, price, location, and description.
None?
Once an item has been traded, it should no longer be presented in the forum, although it may be kept n record for statistical analysis.
To make original content available to the public for distribution and criticism.
Any.
Content characteristics, author intentions, format, author, and description
Readers are encouraged to write critical reviews and rate content on its intentions.
Authors are welcome to submit any and all types of work, from software applications, to paintings, poetry to 3D animation. All submissions must be authorized by the works author/s.
Research and Development should also be directed towards online copyright registration of digital Intellectual Property. This is necessary to encourage content sharing. I suggest a public site that securely stores, records and categorizes IP in digital form.
The more content that is included in a forum, the greater chance that good content will be included. If a forum is closed to any persons, some important content may be shut out.
This means that a forum should be completely open access, including to those with disabilities, limited internet access and computer literacy. To achieve such broad openness…
An online forum should available to the lowest browser/connection in use by citizens. This does not mean the forum has to be limited to such standards, only that a version must be produced to suite the minimum resources.
The forum should be designed so that it be screen read for the blind and use command based navigation for those with limited dexterity.
As new kinds of submissions and submission characteristics become apparent, the system must be able to easily grow to accommodate such content. As well, the forums must be able grow to take advantage of new standards and communications devices without losing content or functionality on legacy systems.
Any well-read individual will agree that novelty is not a useful index for measuring the quality of creative work. Although users may use submission date as a characteristic for content searching, no content should be inaccessible because of its age.
In most circumstances, users will want to take credit for their submissions, but on occasion it may be necessary for users to remain anonymous. Whenever a personal wishes to speak out against a powerful group, they may fear the repercussions and may anonymity as a shield. This will facilitate many kind of actions such as corporate whistle blowers, anti-government speakers, bigots and those who are in the closet about some aspect of their life. Privacy can sustain both evil interests and personal and public gain. As any submission, an anonymous submission will be judged on its own merit and may be ignored or praised by the community according to others reactions to it.