Instant publish and printing option
We are interested in finding out our member's opinion regarding a couple of features that are going to be incorporated in this site.
Most of our members are aware of our moderation policy, and they don't mind waiting a couple of days for their works to get published in the site. Our new members, however, seem to expect instant gratification and do not like the idea of having to wait for a couple of days, and seem to get disappointed when their rangolis don't show up instantly.
In order to resolve this feeling, we've thought about enabling a feature where the rangolis get posted immediately to member galleries. The member-names would be posted at the side bar (front page), as a group/block, and would show names of only those members who had posted recently (time frame -24hrs). We wonder how many of members like the suspense of waiting a couple of days to see the reaction of their friends. This feature also poses another problem. (Just to avoid any confusion; we don't mind anybody posting any number of rangolis at the same time. There are no space issues at all. There are no number restrictions for any of the uploads, in any category. Besides, who wouldn't want to see more goodies? :)). But, if we use the instant-publish option, and a member posts five rangolis at the same time, then our system would publish all five of them at one shot. Is this a desired behavior, or would the artist prefer the system show only one per day, and save the other "surprises" for the rest of the days in the week? My head is reeling with so many questions, like always. :~ Coming back to the question at hand; how many people would like instant-publish, and how many would like to give it two days of time? Another tricky question for our members; How many members can guarantee one rangoli upload per day, all five week-days? 
Another feature that we're thinking of offering is the printing option. This feature would be enabled for members who do not mind others printing copies of their rangolis (printing hard copies and not in pdf).
ammuchandhini
Fri, 2011-12-09 18:55
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Appappa...this question paper is too long and needs to be gone through a couple of times more.....
...jokes apart...i can guarantee one rangoli per day and would like to wait till it gets published lata....may be once in a while like an inspiration kolam done with asudden interest...i may choose d instant option...but otherwise....One Rangoli Per Day and wait for u to publish.Regarding the printing option its ok with me as i have seen so many friends wanting me to mail all my kolams...this is impossible and a sad thing too for me when i don't have their mail-id.
Lata
Tue, 2011-12-20 23:58
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Yes, too long, Your Highness. :bigsmile:
Thanks for your input dear. We're still debating about printing since a few more questions have cropped up since the post. In the meantime, I guess people who are desperate to take a print out would have print screenshot.
jkmrao
Fri, 2011-12-09 19:19
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My two cents worth
1. After a trial period (only for new members), members may be allowed to publish provided they satisfy certain conditions like quality, size, content, etc. If these are not satisfied, the entry may be removed and can be published after the basic criteria are satisfied.
2. No more than one entry within a twenty-four hour period and no more than five entries per week. In this way, there is not too much crowding. If there are too many entries, the visitors may find it hard to view all of them in one sitting. To an extent, it is happening now.
3. My only worry is - some undesirable elements will surely penetrate the security and post junk or still worse, something objectionable.
4. There is one more possibility. Two people in India and one more outside India may be given privileges to view the entries before publication so that some sort of screening takes place. This is done in many news groups with which I am quite familiar.
Regards! - mOhana
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:14
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1. Agreed with point #1.
2. This has been hard to follow. Since there are more than five members who upload kolam quite actively in the site. Even today, I had received emails from two of our active members whose kolams I had not published today. Both of their kolams had been published almost the next day after they had uploaded, or published atleast four times in a week.
I would not blame them since they just want to make sure that their files made it safely in the queue. And I get into trouble for "saving" anybody's file for more than two days in the queue. If others are fine with seeing 5 entries per week, I don't have any problem publishing five. 
3. Some of the precautions we had taken seems to be working fine, but one can never predict, I guess.
4. I had contacted a couple of our members prior to posting this post with questions, and had already delegated the "rangoli of the day" part of the work to one of our well known ikolam friend/member.
And, a few days ago had another ikolam friend/member joining hands to edit the recipe pages. 
I guess the process is on, and will take a few more days.
Thank you so much for letting us know your thoughts on these matters Mohanaji.
umaraja
Wed, 2011-12-21 16:30
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Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 20:08
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Sorry Uma. I don't recall receiving such an email from you at all. I wish I could say you were one of the friends. :bigsmile:
jkmrao
Fri, 2011-12-09 19:23
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How do you prevent pdf printing? There is a choice of printers including pdf printers to which one can direct, is it not? Even now, the really desperate people can take a screenshot and save it, is it not? Regards! - mOhana
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:24
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Yes, pdf printing could not be prevented. Part of the problem here is; some of our members had expressed their interest in letting others print their works, and hence the option came into discussion. I think it is better to drop the idea, since this is not a one-size-fits-all kind of a functionality which could be brought in for all.
umaraja
Fri, 2011-12-09 20:31
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hai lata,instant uploads might result in some worse elements too,,,though we r eager to see ours immediately d moderation helps us to be safe and secured in many aspects,,that too in case of new members moderation is a must in security aspects,,
instead y dont u open a COMINGSOON box in d homepg with d thumbnails of d rangolis going to b published on d next day?????
iam glad abt d printing option
i hope i can submit 5 or more in a week and feel more energetic to touch my 200,,,,
thank u
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:29
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Uma, I think I had already said it but let me repeat myself - you make me laugh with all of your comments.
"Coming soon!" makes me think of a movie release (more exciting and full of suspense). Does not look like a kolam release. :bigsmile:
I guess by now you must have crossed 200 or so? Is it not? Whenever you visit the site, you make everybody very energetic with your words (and works).
umaraja
Wed, 2011-12-21 16:31
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Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 20:05
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Yes, you were right, it is not easy to make somebody laugh! Only people who have great sense of humor could do that easily.
dibbutn
Fri, 2011-12-09 22:06
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Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:34
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Pushpa, in making rangolis, you're doing wonders in more than a couple of mediums dear, so I don't think you fall into the "lazy" category of people. :bigsmile:
If Ranima gives you some of her strengths, you would be uploading more than two a day, which ofcourse would be more than welcome. :party:
ammuchandhini
Wed, 2011-12-21 01:08
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Thathaasthu...
alameluranganath
Sat, 2011-12-10 03:37
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I am also happy with IKOLAM as it is today. No problem. daily kolam will be small of mine so I prefer to put maa kolams or special kolams i can put in ikolam. gud one.
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:36
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Thanks Priya, nice to know.
rajamma_2
Sat, 2011-12-10 06:38
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Lata, welcome your new ideas. Since I am just recovering from my recent illness, I am yet to familiarise with the recent changes made in the site.( Still not able to figure out the Diwali rangoli contest results). I am visiting the galleries and passing comments on the recent uploads.
Regarding new uploads and publishing I prefer waiting for 2, 3 days time (not more than that) with a surprise and suspense!. But I am really feeling sad that I am not in a position even to send one entry per week . I hope I'll be able to do it in new year 2012.
alameluranganath
Wed, 2011-12-14 23:09
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rajamma mam. hope you are doing well and gud. May god give you strength to publish one entry each week mam. Rajamma mam can you visit my gallery and put your valuable comment on my last copy kolam. If possible dear. Hope that you get well soon.
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:49
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I'm so glad to know that you've gotten better and was delighted to read the comments you had posted! I don't understand why it was hard for you to figure out the Diwali rangoli contest results. Please use the "Contests" from the main menu, which gives you the drop down results page as well. And, it is there in the blog entries on the main page too.
I'm sure we'll get to taste goodies made with your hands in the new year. 
Please don't feel sad about not being able to send any entries yet. We are glad to see your name here, and a few words from you whenever you are able to pen them.
Shibrudha
Sat, 2011-12-10 23:35
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Hi Lata,
Welcome your new ideas. I too agree with Rao's point 1 to 4. Printing option is fine.
slowly, we can also think of giving a video clip option for uploading kolams.Every one in ikolam will be waiting to see a video of lakshmiraghu's awesome grand gorgeous kolam in a video.
Hats off to your efforts in keeping the tradition alive.
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:52
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Yes Shibrudha, video links would be great to see, here at ikolam. We used to have a page with a few video links in ikolam, but they were more of a beginners' video links. Just in case our system is not able to handle files that are too big, our members are more than welcome to take videos of their kolams, upload it to youtube, and post links here. Thank you for posting your suggestions.
Shibrudha
Sat, 2011-12-10 23:40
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can we have an option to give email id's of members ?
alameluranganath
Wed, 2011-12-14 23:10
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mail ids of members I too agree with this idea.
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:54
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Shibrudha and Priya, kindly use fb for this purpose, as this is against our site's policy.
lakshmiraghu
Sun, 2011-12-11 03:24
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Lata, thanks for this good thought on instant publishing & printing also. While I agree with Mr.mohanji's thought, pl do take care of safety , Shall try to upload one kolam every day. my opinion is one kolam per day is fine.
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:56
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Thanks for your input, Lakshmi.
smahalakshmi
Mon, 2011-12-12 04:21
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Hi Lata, I'm happy with the site as it is. Need to have the thrill while opening I-Kolam site with lots of thinking like who would have submitted, how many rangolis will be published today etc etc. Moreover if you enable, instant upload option, then viewing & commenting would be difficult as there will be more entries. Instead 10-15 rangolis being published a day would be fine.
Regarding the printing option - I think you can go with that. Like JKM sir said, even now people can take a screen shot and paste it in a word document and print it and create a pdf file with that. Instead if print option is there, people can have a printed copy straight from the site itself.
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 00:58
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Nice to know you like the thrill, Maha.
Thanks for your input.
vijaysowmya
Tue, 2011-12-13 00:31
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Hi Lata...I am happy with the present set up and will be ready to wait for a day or two till it gets published. That gives us a pleasant surprise
Commenting on instant uploads may be difficult for me as I fear I may miss out something...Rangolis five per week is also ok with me...Printing option is fine. 
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 01:00
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Thanks for your input, Sowmya.
ashram2k
Thu, 2011-12-15 01:12
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maam, i rarely upload so cannot comment on people's reaction to a waiting period that is practised now. but as an user, who gets time once in a fortnight to go through the beautiful creations that has been uploaded i would find it hard to see all those in one go. so please consider the "viewers" view while making the suggested changes in the site. afterall in today's world it is always "instant" that wins the race be it noodles or nirvana
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 01:02
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I agree with you. You're right about the noodles part. :bigsmile:
Thanks for your input.
chandy
Thu, 2011-12-15 01:56
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Happy with the site as it is. Too many rangolis per day means not enough time to view and comment. Maybe 10 rangolis per day, a combination of freehand, dotted, maakolam. Printing option is fine. uid next to the name would be good to view the gallery
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 01:04
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Thanks for the points you had made. We'll consider them to the best of our abilities.
Suguna Murugesan
Thu, 2011-12-15 01:59
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i'm happy with this ikolam as it is.. i am not able to submit a rangli per day because of my health problems..i'll do my best...printing option is ok
Lata
Wed, 2011-12-21 01:09
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Oh, that's ok Suguna, I wasn't serious about the "one rangoli per day" part. I asked because I had always wanted to find out how many people would be willing to take it up as a challenge, in case someone wanted to. :bigsmile:
I too have similar reasons as you for not being able to make one a day. My right elbow has been hurting since Diwali, and I'm still trying to figure out exactly the reasons. Could be a combination of things.
Thank you for giving us your input, Suguna. Take care of your back.
Suguna Murugesan
Wed, 2011-12-21 20:39
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thank you lata
you too take care your health 
subashini
Wed, 2011-12-21 21:13
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sorry to hear about your health lata.pl take care and take rest for some days.
ammuchandhini
Wed, 2011-12-21 21:10
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With so much pain in ur elbow u were dancing to the tunes of dandu nakka and naakka mukka yesterday....
..pl take care of ur health lata... 
subashini
Wed, 2011-12-21 21:17
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sorry to disturbing you suguna.I don't know about your health problem.pl take care of you.
Suguna Murugesan
Fri, 2011-12-23 04:09
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thank you suba