MCNers Considering a #MCN2015 Submission,
Please note that the Ungerboeck Software underlying the #MCN2015 CFP submission
form is woefully lacking in web usability even when judged by 1990s standards.
(I hope MCN is getting this service pro bono because the submission form is so
poorly implemented that it does not suggest that the rest of the system is any
better. If Ungerboeck folk are listening, please fix these glaring errors.)
Here's a couple quick tips if you are pressed for time and trying to do an
#MCN2015 submission:
* DO NOT write your submission directly in the submission form. Yes, it is a
WYSIWYG editor with dynamic word counter and all. It appears to be an on-line
editor for drafting and submitting your abstract, but BEWARE. There is a
short-lived session object on the form that times-out WITHOUT WARNING!!! If
your session times out and you hit "Continue" you will get a "Gotcha" dialog
explaining that your session had timed out and inviting you to return to the
application AT THE BEGINNING!? That's right, not going back, no interim save...
go back to GO! And start over. You have to KNOW HOW DEMORALIZING AND DEPRESSING
THIS CAN BE... first you are angry as Hell at the designer and then you blame
yourself for not anticipating their stupidity! :-(
* Okay, so to overcome the session time out you do your editing in a
client-side editor and paste it into the form... better but also BEWARE:
* The best way to get formatted copy in and out of the Abstract
Submission form is to toggle the WYSIWYG editor to 'Source' mode and use and
HTML editor on your copy.
* While the Abstract description has a textarea widget with a dynamic
"Abstract Word Count: 0/2000" message, when you submit the form it will enforce
a 4,000 CHARACTER limit on the description NOT a 2,000 WORD limit.
* AND, the 4,000 CHARACTER limit is based on the characters of a
tag-stripped copy of your text, not the ACTUAL characters in your submission.
(For example, my Ignite Talk submission is on the order of 650 or so WORDS but
over 4,000 CHARACTERS. To get the form to accept my submission, I snipped a bit
here and there until it accepted it and here is the result:
Number of letters and digits: 3,743
Number of printable characters: 4,171
Total number of characters: 4,835
Honestly, this webform should be an embarrassment to Ungerboeck and I hope they
fix its rookie mistakes. But even more than a heads-up to Ungerboeck, I do hope
that this experience report helps others "under the gun" of the submission
deadline to not waste their time and energy rewriting a submission.
Happy-Healthy Vibes,
-: Jim :-
Jim Salmons and Timlynn Babitsky
Twitter: @Jim_Salmons, @TimlynnBabitsky, @FactMiners, @Softalk_Apple
www.FactMiners.org (Open Source #Play2Learn game community)
www.SoftalkApple.com (first FactMiners museum/archive project)
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Eric
Longo
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 10:52 AM
To: MCN-L
Subject: [MCN-L] Tic-toc-tic-toc... MCN2015 CfP deadline!
Hurry... only 2 days left to submit proposals for MCN2015...
Here are some ideas to get you inspired:
- Advancing digital #strategy at your museum?
- Bridging the online/onsite museum visitor experience?
- Great collaborations & agile approaches at your museum?
- Incorporating technology into your area of museum practice?
- Groundbreaking new digital initiative at your museum?
- Have great evaluation & analytics stories to tell?
- What's your approach to digital storytelling?
- Have you solved the riddle of indoor positioning at a museum?
- Are you leading change at your cultural organization?
- Are you bringing #museumed & digital tools together in awesome ways?
- Is your cultural organization embracing technology?
- New ideas & approaches to social media engagement?
- Impressive data to share re: museum visitors & digital initiatives?
- Making your museum more accessible & inclusive via technology?
*Proposals due by April 30, 2015 at 11:59pm EST!*
Submit here: http://bit.ly/mcn-2015
-----
Eric Longo
Executive Director
Museum Computer Network <http://www.mcn.edu/>
O: +1-888-211-1477 x801
M: +1-917-740-6631
[email protected]
Help ease email overload <http://emailcharter.org/>.
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