Subj: LUSA - 2nd Contact
Date: 10/8/98 7:48:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: elf@pclink.com (Daniel Servatius)
To all concerned:
There is what I call a geographic interface at the Letterboxing USA
homepage: http://www.pclink.com/elf/letbox.htm
"Letterboxing maps" would also be an adequate description for it.
My thinking was that people will generally be interested in clues for
the letterboxes near them. My assumption was that people would be able
to pick out an approximate location on a map to get clues for boxes
nearby. If they are going on a trip I figured they would be able print
some clues for the area they are visiting (if they know they will not
have internet access, otherwise they can wait until they get there).
The fringe benefit is that they will have a map right on the clues sheet
to help them find the site.
I'm wondering if the way this thing is starting to materialize works --
Do you think it works? Do you feel that my assumptions were correct?
If not, what should I be doing to make it work better? My hope is that
in the future you will be able to choose custom settings for your clues
pages, ie. colors, fonts, style, arrangement of text and images, map or
no map? Do any of these things appeal to you? Would you feel it
worthwhile to have a system where you have the option to layout your own
clues and images? The mapping system of course would not have much
variability. Its pretty much tied down by what's in the world. But I'm
interested in your ideas nonetheless on how things should appear and
function on these pages. What should things look like and how should
this work so it is as easy as possible to use? One of my main goals was
to make this as no-nonsense and hassle free as possible. You can help me
to accomplish that by giving me your input. How would you like this to
function in order for you to get the most satisfaction and enjoyment out
of it? What would you like it to look like (aesthetically)? Do you
like the idea of laying out your own clues if it can be done easily?
The way it works now you are never very far away (while on the main
page) from a letterbox clue -- two clicks at most -- first the state map
and then the area with your boxes. But I think if the state maps become
too dense with dots to distinguish between them I may have to introduce
an inermediate map (of a region) and from there you'd go to the
letterbox sites. This may mean that you would need three clicks to get
to some of the clues. Would that be OK or not?
Anyway, I'm looking for input. I want this page to be your page. I
want you to tell me how you want it to work. Tell me your ideas. Don't
be afraid to make suggestions. I'm anxious to hear from you. Most of
my correspondence in the future will be along these lines so get used to
thinking about how you would like things to work and then expect some,
if not all of your ideas to materialize. That's my goal: to make your
ideas for letterboxing materialize. Nothing gives me more satisfaction
than to know that I have provided you good tools, not just to find your
clues, but to be able to express yourself artistically. Of course I'm
not certain that I'll be able to provide everything you want, but I will
definitely try if you give me some input.
I'll be contacting you in about a week or so to tell you what things you
have suggested that I think I will be able to accomplish. Don't be
afraid to think big, but don't be shocked if I tell you that it may take
me a year or two to accomplish it. I really think I can do whatever you
ask though, so please ask!
Thank you in advance for your input.
Dan'l
Ps. I'd really love to hear from some of you who never say anything. I
don't care if you have boxes out yet or not. Tell me how you would like
things to work WHEN you get your boxes out. The system will be waiting
for you when you're ready and working how you would have wanted it to
work if you give me your input now.
--------------
Subj: Re: LUSA - 2nd Contact
Date: 10/9/98 7:04:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: bonitasusan@hotmail.com (Bonita McLaughlin)
Hi Daniel. I like your approach to improving the Web page. Here are my
thoughts...
I like the maps you've done--I'm sure they will be helpful. The process
doesn't seem too cumbersome at this point, and if you later need to add
an intermediate map, it still will be very simple to get the
information.
This may seem like a weird thing for an artist to say, but I don't feel
one way or another about the aesthetics of the clues/maps. I mean,
Times New Roman in black on a white background is fine with me!
Especially since if I'm going letterboxing, I'd probably print out the
clue (on my black-and-white laserjet at work) and lose all the color
anyway. And then it'lll get folded up and stuck in a pocket...
Hope this input helps. Cheers! Bonnie McLaughlin
--------------
Subj: Re: LUSA - 2nd Contact
Date: 10/10/98 3:50:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: FencePoste@aol.com
In a message dated 98-10-08 22:48:49 EDT, el-@pclink.com writes:
<<
The way it works now you are never very far away (while on the main
page) from a letterbox clue -- two clicks at most -- first the state map
and then the area with your boxes. But I think if the state maps become
too dense with dots to distinguish between them I may have to introduce
an inermediate map (of a region) and from there you'd go to the
letterbox sites. This may mean that you would need three clicks to get
to some of the clues. Would that be OK or not? >>
I'm fixing to be late for work so I'm just skimming my mail LOL No time to answer all or check up on the
map situation, but regarding the question above, it would certainly be fine with me to have to click 3 or
even 4 times vs. 2..... I think anyone who's ever used an atlas on the internet will be used to having to click
down to more and more specific regions to find what they are looking for. To me it seems the only
reasonable way to handle crowding on the maps, if and when that happens.
Lynn
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