A couple of pro-IRC points to consider as well: - conversations are publicly logged and web-searchable - despite the apparent intimidation factor for new users (mitigated by sessions like Yamil so generously offers), it's a low point of entry - can accommodate hundreds (or thousands) of users who can participate in real time, making meetings truly public (the most I've seen teleconferencing software accommodate is maybe 15, increasing costs for whoever is hosting the meeting)
I'm open to individual committees or the Evergreen Oversight Board occasionally using conference software for a more face-to-face feel, but I hope we will continue using IRC for most community business for the above reasons (and the ones Ben mentioned). Just my two cents, Chris On Mon, May 9, 2016 at 1:28 PM, Ben Shum <[email protected]> wrote: > It's a reasonable question and one we should continue to evaluate over > time. > > One reason we did not always like products like gotomeeting, etc. was > cost. While community volunteers could grant access to their organizations > resources, the community itself never decided to spend money on platforms. > Freenode IRC is free to use. > > Another reason is cross platform compatibility; some of us used Linux > workstations and these did not always play nicely with those applications. > > After this many years on IRC, it's second nature to me, but I also see the > value considering alternative solutions if we can work through all the > logistics and continue to keep barriers of access to a minimum. > > -- Ben > > Sent from my Nexus 6 > On May 9, 2016 12:01 PM, "[email protected]" < > [email protected]> wrote: > > I’d like to ask a general question about this since I am still fairly new > to the community. Why has the Evergreen community opted to use IRC chat as > an on-line meeting venue? The one time I used it I found it disconcerting > in its antiquated look and feel and had difficulty with the etiquette. Why > not use GoToMeeting, Blackboard Collaborate, or a similar product? The chat > interface in these products is much closer to what most of us are used to > and it would add in the possibility of using VOIP and screen sharing. I’ve > been curious about this for a while.... > > > > Scott > > > > > > Scott Thomas > > Executive Director > > *PaILS / SPARK* > > (717) 873-9461 > > [email protected] > > [image: Description: Description: Training | SPARK – Pennsylvania's > Statewide Library System] <http://www.palibrary.org/pails/> > > > > > > > > *From:* Open-ils-general [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Barbara > Cormack > *Sent:* Monday, May 09, 2016 12:46 PM > *To:* Evergreen Discussion Group < > [email protected]> > *Subject:* Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Should we schedule another IRC practice > time? > > > > I second what Stuart said; I'd be interested. Thanks! -- Barbara > > > > > > On Mon, May 9, 2016 at 9:04 AM, Forrest, Stuart <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Yes please I missed the last one > > > > Stuart > > > > *From:* Open-ils-general [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Yamil > Suarez > *Sent:* Monday, May 09, 2016 11:59 AM > *To:* Evergreen Discussion Group > *Subject:* [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Should we schedule another IRC practice > time? > > > > Hello, > > > > Last week the IRC practice time went well, and we had a good bunch of > folks trying out IRC. I wanted to check in if there was interest for a > second practice time. I am all for it, but I wanted to verify that there > was community interest. Remember to include your colleagues that are not on > this list that may want to learn. > > > > I tend to pick times after 12 noon EST to allow those on the west coast to > join, but I am willing to schedule something in the (east coast) morning > too. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Yamil > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Barbara Cormack > > Project Manager > > *Equinox Software - Open Your Library* > > 1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457) > > [email protected] > www.esilibrary.com > > -- Chris Sharp PINES System Administrator Georgia Public Library Service 1800 Century Place, Suite 150 Atlanta, Georgia 30345 (404) 235-7147
