Biocultural Diversity Working Group

Hi Bowo

We can't use a different avatar for a user on the homepage. It must be that user's current avatar. Perhaps you could ask the user to change it?

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Wow, this is probably the first virtual brainstorm I've taken part of :-)

It might be useful to return to the original question, which is actually 3 different problems:

• AOFs are too complicated for users
• AOFs are not conducive to "globalizing" the site
• AOFs are not very scientific

I think we all agree that these are fundamental issues with the current AOF system, and I think each point deserves its own debate.

AOFs are too complicated for users

I feel like a major stake in the resolution of this issue resides with the manner in which the user navigates and interacts with the AOF (categorization) system, especially if we are attempting to expand it to an n-level hierarchy. Any chance we could get IDEO to draft us some prototypes ;-)

AOFs are not conducive to "globalizing" the site

The initial point here was that the current AOFs are too cumbersome to translate. Personally I think the core issue is much deeper than language translation, and is closer to cultural translation. It might be a large error on our part to pre-suppose how the rest of the world should categorize content. That's not to say the rest of the world cannot use whatever system we devise, but it would be ideal for them to categorize content in a manner which directly transcends from their values (and language). This is one of the "3rd rails" of international development / aid (especially when involving technology), but I thought it might be worth bringing it up.

AOFs are not very scientific

I see the root of this problem coming from the fact that our current system is so large and complex, maintaining it and ensuring its logical validation has become an insurmountable task.

The solution I propose to these 3 problem areas is essentially a web 2.0 approach categorizing our content.

@Arash, I understand your weariness of multiple taxonomy tagging from a user experience POV, see below.

Solution: user's have the option of subscribing (and creating their own) taxonomies. By default all user's are subscribed to AOF or Earth Charter taxonomies (whatever we decide on). If a user visits an entity record that is not in one of their subscribed taxonomies, then the record's tags are hidden (although there should be an option to see all public taxonomies the entity belongs to). If the user is viewing an entity that is in one or more of their taxonomies, then for each taxonomy the tags are listed.

The majority of this technical functionality exists within the upcoming Solutions release. We would just have to modify and open the functionality to extend it to all entity types.

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