TrackStack mockup help request

[conseo]

Hi,

I have worked on a concept for the shared elements of both Crossforum and the 
embedded view of it. The embedded view contains both the toolbar and 
optionally Trackstacks. First I thought that only Crossforum should allow 
active interaction, while the embedded view would allow only to view different 
details. I think this is wrong from a users perspective, since the embedded 
view is likely what new users see first/most included on their familiar 
websites. Therefore it should allow to pledge/vote without having the rest of 
Crossforum available. Browsing votespace/geospace/feed communictions... still 
happens in Crossforum, but this is open to a new user to explore, after s/he 
is registered (e.g. mail them with additional information and links of 
Crossforum and concepts in the registration info).

This also means we need to allow people to register and signup from the 
embedded view, to allow easy and quick contribution, without understanding the 
collective voting concepts yet (much like the like-buttons or ways to quickly 
donate something). They will only learn after that (or if they wish to before 
as well ofc.) that they continue to drive the process.

This also gives a good concept of what belongs in the embedded view and what 
belongs in Crossforum. Basically any user should be able to vote or pledge 
(=contribute) via the embedded view whenever s/he feels like it on an activist 
page/blog/social network site etc. This is what draws users in and they will 
learn on the way. (1) For them it might look like a typical poll.

For us this also means that we can structure Crossforum in a clear 
distinction. The toolbar and Trackstacks (resource visualizations) will be 
shared, because they are relevant for single positions, while certain toolbar 
actions (for the feed or the mapper (e.g. votespace)) as well as the feed and 
the mapper only show up in Crossforum. For the embedded view we need the user 
to browse, visualize and contribute to the resources of the *position* s/he is 
viewing. So we allow to select the resource, to pledge/vote for that resource 
(with registration/signup embedded), we allow to show different Trackstacks. 
The toolbar can also allow to show positions (likely opening Crossforum with 
the position selected) btw. it doesn't mean we hide the collective voting tool 
background completely, it is just not elementary.
We also have to share the HUD, likely best with an OSD-like area showing up 
below the embedded view on the embedding webpage (it is hidden while 
interacting with the page and only shows up when you mouseover the Crossforum 
embedded view.) (2)

For now this would also mean that interaction with the TrackStacks is not 
needed. If we allow to interact with them, we can do so to show more 
information, but voting and pledging as well as other editing actions go to 
the toolbar. I would stick to the single TrackStack arrow-bar for now and 
worry about the alternative TrackStack views/interactions when they are needed 
(e.g. when Crossforum extent is happening or we get a profound sense of 
consensual history for the history visual).

Implementation questions:

(1) We can either do that with a wizard overlay for the whole page, which is 
aggressive, but easier to layout or we can extend the Ui ribbon-like with an 
inline wizard taking max. two lines (in TextLabel-height) below the toolbar, 
above the TrackStacks, always showing up next to the action clicked in the 
toolbar and hiding after interaction. This allows the user to continue to 
interact with the page while interacting with Crossforum.

(2) We can also use another line below everything else (atm. the TrackStacks), 
extending whenever there is information to show. If we default to some 
information in the HUD (e.g. Poll/Position information), then this means 
vertical screen space is stolen and the OSD-like approach is better, avoiding 
to show that information. We have to specify what the HUD needs to show. Mike, 
what have you planned to show in there and what should go to left and right 
caption?

conseo