[OWW-Discuss] Hello list! (I'm new)

[Bryan Bishop]

On Friday 08 February 2008, Dan Bolser wrote:
> I also like the chatting feature, but I have yet to meet up with
> anyone online at the same time as me. Is this client an interface to
> an IRC backend? i.e. do you have an IRC server that I can connect to
> with a different client? There are a group of us who hang out in
> irc://irc.freenode.net/#bioinformatics and I imagine some who would
> love to join the conversation.

I also recommend #bioinformatics.

> The main question about the system that I have is this, I was
> wondering why the registration of OpenWetWare is so restrictive - How
> come you don't allow freer editing of pages and content? Perhaps you

Here's my take on this, and I do not mean to intrude, but it seems that 
OWW is more geared towards professors and labs and the marketing has 
been in _that_ more than anything else. I bet Drew is off trying to 
convert more professors as we speak. And that's why it's 
restrictive ... maybe it's some private funding going into all of these 
labs or something.

> benefit from having more control over your users and more
> 'restricted' content, however, the success of Wikipedia suggests that
> 'the more the better'. I know registration is only a few clicks,
> along with a slight delay, but that will put a lot of people off.

Yep. Put me off for an entire year.

> Perhaps you think it is better to exclude such 'casual' users, but I
> don't think it is good policy. I would like to see more 'open' access
> to all the features of the site.

I can't help but promote my own somewhat relevant wiki over at:
http://biohack.sf.net/wiki/

> One final question about the development of OpenWetWare, do you plan
> to (or have you explored) the possibility of using Semantic
> Mediawiki? I am thinking of exploring that system in more detail with
> regard to some of my own projects (more below), and I would be
> interested to know about any plans, experience, or expertise that
> exists within OpenWetWare.

Btw, there seems to be some weekly(?) teleconferences, but I haven't 
been let in on this yet.

- Bryan
________________________________________
Bryan Bishop
http://heybryan.org/