VetNurse direction of travel

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 14:34:44 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]I clicked onto the snap shot version in your post and was able to merrily navigate around it on my mobile... thought that's why it was there![/quote]

Ah - OK, no that isn't why it is there!

The snapshot in my post is just an image of the DESKTOP version. When live you will see a different version on mobile phones.

Here is a rough mobile version. Again it is only an image so you can't really test it as such:

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Alison Clare Hickman — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 14:04:14 GMT

I clicked onto the snap shot version in your post and was able to merrily navigate around it on my mobile... thought that's why it was there!

**Edit** I couldn't click INTO anything - just used it to navigate around the menu - - - hope this explains my trip!! I can do the same on my laptop...

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 12:16:33 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]It fits as one entire page like a huge flat menu onto the screen in portrait (small text, can't read it so had to expand it). Orientated to landscape I have to scroll it up and down but as it has stretched to fit landscape text is bigger, eyesight copes![/quote]

I am really confused at what you are looking at, because I haven't shared the mobile version of the design, and the current live site has not yet been updated. So what exactly are you commenting about Alison Clare Hickman???!

Confushed

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Alison Clare Hickman — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 07:07:21 GMT

It fits as one entire page like a huge flat menu onto the screen in portrait (small text, can't read it so had to expand it). Orientated to landscape I have to scroll it up and down but as it has stretched to fit landscape text is bigger, eyesight copes!

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 06:17:57 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]I've had a look-see and a play and I really like the fact I can see everything on one page on my mobile and navigate around easily.[/quote]

How on earth did you do that (judge it on mobile), because I haven't shared the mobile design yet (but there is a nice mobile version).

I thought that about title colours too, will discuss with designer.

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Alison Clare Hickman — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 03:50:17 GMT

I've had a look-see and a play and I really like the fact I can see everything on one page on my mobile and navigate around easily. It is especially good if I orientate to landscape view because the text is readable without having to wear my glasses or expand size Reeeesult!

Can I be ultra picky and say it would look more appealing to my eye if there was more differentiation between subject areas... it looks a bit 'samey' and my eye wasn't immediately drawn to anything...

Maybe a bit more variation in colour or box-sectioning perhaps?

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:58:56 GMT

Making some progress here ...

We now have a design for a 'freshened' up home page for vetnurse, designed to display info better (esp on mobile, the design for which is expected later today.

We are moving in the direction of what is called a 'progressive web app' which is all the rage, I hear! In short, we make the website behave like an app, most notably with the introduction of notifications on your phone.

Anyway, here's the design. Colour of title boxes is not set in stone. Thoughts?

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 24 May 2019 08:36:35 GMT

[quote user="Laura Ringsell"]Hi Arlo, what I mean by keeping a page open is vetnurse tab open in your browser, I frequently have loads open that I wish to go back to or frequently go back to but it so easy for them to be overwritten by mistake. An icon for an app on a tablet screen reminds you of those pages you want to visit frequently, you keep those you are less interested on The following pages, they are only a swipe away and you still can’t forget them. I’m not very good at using the correct terminology for I.T stuff (much to my husbands dismay) but I hope you understand what I mean![/quote]

Laura Ringsell - Ah ok - well did you know that you can already add a vetnurse icon to your mobile phone home screen? The only difference is that it doesn't show an icon for notifications of activity (though my plan is it will in the future).

On iphone, click the bookmark icon, then add to home screen.

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Laura Ringsell — Fri, 24 May 2019 07:56:12 GMT

Hi Arlo, what I mean by keeping a page open is vetnurse tab open in your browser, I frequently have loads open that I wish to go back to or frequently go back to but it so easy for them to be overwritten by mistake. An icon for an app on a tablet screen reminds you of those pages you want to visit frequently, you keep those you are less interested on The following pages, they are only a swipe away and you still can’t forget them. I’m not very good at using the correct terminology for I.T stuff (much to my husbands dismay) but I hope you understand what I mean!

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 23 May 2019 08:41:43 GMT

[quote user="Laura Ringsell"]Hi Arlo, I’ve been away from this site for years (sorry) mainly due to the purchase of an iPad and the lack of an easy app, keeping a page open just doesn’t work.[/quote]

Laura Ringsell No need to apologise. It's not you, it's me (as they say!)

Not quite sure what you mean by keeping a page open - ie why you would want to do that. Do you mean as a way of following a specific discussion? So is it the lack of notifications here (so you can close the page and get notified when something is added) that you are talking about as the major problem, or is it something else.

[quote user="Laura Ringsell"]So I have relied on vetnurse chatter on FB but quickly got fed up with the moans and groans of people that you have to scroll past to get to things that may be of interest. Don’t get me wrong, I understand folk need to be able express their feelings but what I like about this site is the groupings of topics so you don’t have to read them, especially if you don’t feel you may have anything positive to add, or they may be your colleagues which just makes things super awkward.[/quote]

You've really summed up my 'vision' for where vetnurse and vetsurgeon 'sit' in the facebook era. The overall 'mission statement' doesn't change, which is that we exist to help everyone share information. In the past, that was largely through simply providing the forums. But now, since Facebook, the job really is to curate information to make it easier to cut through all the digital clutter.

I've made a start on this with the creation of the interest areas. But the most important thing next is to get the site upgrade done, which will improve the mobile experience. Weeks away now.

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Laura Ringsell — Wed, 22 May 2019 18:21:30 GMT

Hi Arlo, I’ve been away from this site for years (sorry) mainly due to the purchase of an iPad and the lack of an easy app, keeping a page open just doesn’t work. So I have relied on vetnurse chatter on FB but quickly got fed up with the moans and groans of people that you have to scroll past to get to things that may be of interest. Don’t get me wrong, I understand folk need to be able express their feelings but what I like about this site is the groupings of topics so you don’t have to read them, especially if you don’t feel you may have anything positive to add, or they may be your colleagues which just makes things super awkward. So my quick answer would be, I can’t comment much as been away for too long but an app that works in the same way as the website would be amazing!

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:05:40 GMT

[quote user="Ben Ogden"]Give me the accessibility & notification of Facebook, but the usability of Reddit for the forum/discussion side of things. The news I would happily read like the BBC news app. Jobs is fine as is, gallery needs a revamp and CPD I don't use, not to say I wouldn't, mind, I just don't currently. Neatly put this all in a little app and I'd be happy.[/quote]

What I am aiming for is something called a progressive web app, which is basically a website that looks and functions like an app.

Would be interested to know what you most like about reddit.

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Ben Ogden — Fri, 10 May 2019 15:27:24 GMT

Give me the accessibility & notification of Facebook, but the usability of Reddit for the forum/discussion side of things. The news I would happily read like the BBC news app. Jobs is fine as is, gallery needs a revamp and CPD I don't use, not to say I wouldn't, mind, I just don't currently. Neatly put this all in a little app and I'd be happy.

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 09 May 2019 12:12:40 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]True - for quality responses vetnurse is good but very much not the quickest imo - probably due to the lack of traffic again. FB usually deluges rapidly but you do have to pick out the wheat from the chaff. However, this quick response appeals as for (most people) the aim is to get your post answered/reacted to then, there, now and, moreover, a lack of (rapid) responses can make it seem that no one can help... so the poster goes elsewhere. Is this too entrenched a feature of modern times (that ages me) = quick fix expected.[/quote]

Yes, everything you say is true, and I am slightly kicking myself that I didn't pick up on the need for notifications / better mobile friendliness sooner. A hazard of being a computer / tablet user, rather than a mobile user myself!

The good thing is that the traffic elsewhere on the site has remained very strong - jobs section in particular, but a lot of people read the news too, and as you say, looking for CPD.

Part of me has thought about ceasing development of the forum section, but i think it would be a shame if there was no alternative to facebook, and I think notifications and better mobile friendliness could reinvigorate things.

Watch this space!

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Alison Clare Hickman — Thu, 09 May 2019 10:47:30 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"][quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]I can 'quote' on vetnurse to highlight that I am commenting specifically about a previous post but this can show 'out of synch' with the rest of the main post and can be confusing,[/quote][/quote]

This happens when I have played 'catch-up' on a post - when I haven't read it for a while or decide to open it up after it has started and been going for a while. So for instance, I am reading past posts within a thread about which I want to add to/ask about. So I can 'quote' it but my new post is a 'has-been' and may not add to the direction the post has since gone in (confusing/annoying for everyone else). This doesn't happen on FB as my post is hidden from the main drag. Perhaps it *is* more of a 'tangent' thing - so I suppose I am answering my own gripe, Alison, do a Tangent! Sorry...

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"] but the smaller ones you get here tend to be more thoughtful / better quality. Maybe that is the point of difference.[/quote]

True - for quality responses vetnurse is good but very much not the quickest imo - probably due to the lack of traffic again. FB usually deluges rapidly but you do have to pick out the wheat from the chaff. However, this quick response appeals as for (most people) the aim is to get your post answered/reacted to then, there, now and, moreover, a lack of (rapid) responses can make it seem that no one can help... so the poster goes elsewhere. Is this too entrenched a feature of modern times (that ages me) = quick fix expected.

The purpose of the forums? Hmmm - why do I visit vetnurse/vetsurgeon? To offer advice/suggestions in response (less and less as less people post - something I've noticed over the past 12 months). To learn something new (usually anaesthesia/radiology) - for wounds I use Veterinary Wound Library (sorry you ain't gonna beat that!). To keep myself up to date on news (probably an age thing - I don't remember being that interested when I was in my 20's). I have the occasional tickle around looking for free CPD (thanks). also think you need to attract a younger audience to boost your numbers - perhaps I'm totally wrong but most of us that remain active or stalking on here are 'vintage'? (in my case 'ancient' Hahahah!!). In which case - ask the younger members what they need? Send an email? (You must have their ages in the data base). Is this allowed under GDPR... oh heck.

TTFN

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 09 May 2019 09:17:52 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]For me, a notification on my mobile on my FB app that a comment or post has been made means I take a gander. Both new and for those I've previously 'followed' or liked. I have a VN tile on my phone but it doesn't do this - perhaps this is something to consider applying to grab attention?[/quote]

Alison Clare Hickman - yes, this is something I have been giving a lot of thought to, and I think a notification app which puts that notification on your mobile is a must have.

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]I like that if I comment on a FB post I can select a particular comment within the main post and comment on that, rather than join the main-stream chatter. This appeals to me. [/quote]

That's interesting, because that is a feature of FB that I don't like (and we built the 'tangent' button to provide an alternative).

Why? Because when I am reading through threads, I hate having to expand them on FB, and perhaps even more importantly, if someone has said something interesting that I want to go back to, even minutes later, I find it so much harder to find it again!

Kind of what you are saying here:

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]However, any tangent discussions can get mixed up and lost on FB posts. For vetnurse we can select to continue to discuss this separately which I do really like as it keeps the content specific, so keep this aspect please.[/quote]

I don't understand this next point you made!

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]I can 'quote' on vetnurse to highlight that I am commenting specifically about a previous post but this can show 'out of synch' with the rest of the main post and can be confusing,[/quote]

Can you expand?

Also, yes, I think the combination of a better mobile phone experience and an app would make a significant difference to the amount that people use VetNurse, and it mirrors the discussion over on VetSurgeon.

But I'm also trying to consider the very purpose of the forums on VN, to give that clear difference between facebook and VN.

However, as someone remarked on VS, and perhaps it is true here too, which is that you tend to get a greater volume of replies on Facebook, but the smaller ones you get here tend to be more thoughtful / better quality. Maybe that is the point of difference.

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 08 May 2019 15:57:43 GMT

Okay - here's my thoughts (so far)

I understand why you have made your comments about being a clear difference between vetnurse forum and FB groups. The nurse traffic needs first to be directed *onto* vetnurse to appreciate that difference, yes?

There needs to be a sea-change in how you attract nurse to the site and then keep them interested and active. Some copying of how FB et al do this is suggested (Kill me now!!)

For me, a notification on my mobile on my FB app that a comment or post has been made means I take a gander. Both new and for those I've previously 'followed' or liked. I have a VN tile on my phone but it doesn't do this - perhaps this is something to consider applying to grab attention?

Once I'm on the vetnurse forum:

I like that if I comment on a FB post I can select a particular comment within the main post and comment on that, rather than join the main-stream chatter. This appeals to me.

I can 'quote' on vetnurse to highlight that I am commenting specifically about a previous post but this can show 'out of synch' with the rest of the main post and can be confusing, particularly if the main post has developed past the quoted comment I want to expand or comment on.

However, any tangent discussions can get mixed up and lost on FB posts. For vetnurse we can select to continue to discuss this separately which I do really like as it keeps the content specific, so keep this aspect please.

Experts:

I like having an active expert for each subject I am commenting on. FB groups do this well. Not saying you don't have members who are expert in their field (Nick Shackleton !!) but I have joined various FB groups that are very specific in their area and keep to that topic - discussed in depth and usually have experts in the subject who respond (or are tagged and respond) quickly - think Veterinary Wound Library as one great example. For me, this is an important part of why I join, and stay in, a group.

Hope this helps any? I'm still thinking...

Ali

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:37:55 GMT

[quote user="Alison Clare Hickman"]Arlo Guthrie - I have seen your request for feedback and need to have a good think. Just wanted to let you know I am thinking! Regards[/quote]

RE: VetNurse direction of travel

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:27:37 GMT

Arlo Guthrie - I have seen your request for feedback and need to have a good think. Just wanted to let you know I am thinking! Regards