Re: Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin)
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin)
  • From: R* P* <r*@embarqmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:36:02 -0500 (EST)
Paul; I am not familiar with Plant step. The Iris encyclopedia datadbase is
being developed with the intention that the information will be open to the
world. After it appears on the AIS website we may have to have passwords for
those that are allowed to edit it because there are malicious people or
pranksters out there that could screw it up just because they can. In my mind
there is no question that the information will be available for free but the
priveledge to change that information may be restricted. those who register
for free can still upload pictures and add comments but unless they are given
the priveledge they will not be able to edit or delete what has already been
created. We will have to see what security winds up being necessary. AIS is
also planning to have something called a virtual membershup. It will cost only
a fraction of the traditional print membership and it will have such things as
the bulletins available to down load. At present we expect to have much much
more but the wiki itself is going to be outside the members only area and free
to the world. We may place the editing priviledges behind the members only
site just to protect the data. But If I have much to say, anyone who helps in
the construction beforehand will have access to make changes in the future.
Yes we need the revenue from the members only site to support the wiki in the
future. But this may be done in various ways. Perhaps we will ask frequent
users if they might make a donation of a couple of bucks each year. Sort of
the Public television pledge drive effort. There are lots of possiblilities
but the main goal is to provide a valuable resource for free and hope that
people recognize the effort by helping any or all the societies involved.If
anyone would like to help build this database please send me an e-mail.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Archer" <pharcher@mindspring.com>
To: iris@hort.net
Sent: Thursday, December 31, 2009 4:59:29 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin)

I am excited about the Online Iris Database being set up.  Finally!  I was
wondering if there are plans for it to be compatible with other database
programs (i.e. www.plantstep.com) so that the stats can be downloaded into
them.  It would be awesome if it could be as it is a great program (I have
mentioned it before).  Or will I be relegated to buying the CD's or buying
membership to the Online Registration data from the AIS and typing all of
that
in myself?

Paul Archer
Indianapolis, IN  Zone 5


-----Original Message-----
>From: Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>
>Sent: Dec 4, 2009 10:00 PM
>To: iris@hort.net
>Subject: Re: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin)
>
>I had several requests for more information concerning the Iris wiki, an
>online Iris encyclopedia that will be available hopefully by spring on the
AIS
>website. And I will try to answer multiple e-mails with this post.
>
>First the people who I am training and working with to create this site are
>called docents. At present docents are helping to put together the bones of
>the site. By that I mean they must be able to enter data in a set way so
that
>the basis of this incredibly searchable database will work at its optimum
>capacity. The same or other docents must be able to upload pictures in
>specified way so that people viewing the data base will find what they are
>looking for quickly even if they are on dial-up. These are two very simple
>tasks but require some discipline to a set format. For those familiar with
>Davebs  Garden. and/or the Wikipedia, be assured this combines the best of
>each site and as it becomes fully functional will surpass either for quality
>and quantity of Iris information and for ease of use.. Once we have passed
the
>barn raising phase that we are in at present docents will help to maintain
the
>integrity of the site, help edit material, and help users with their
>additions. Docents may also be a resource of information depending on their
>interests.
>
>To explain more concretely, ultimately all 80,000 cultivars the entire AIS
>checklist database will be represented. Each cultivar will have its own page
>and on that page up to 20 pictures can be added. Also each page will have a
>comment box for adding additional information about the cultivar. For
example
>bloom times and rebloom times could be added for scores of localities around
>the world for any particular cultivar.
>
>We have a chicken and egg problem. If we have a cultivar page without a
>picture people will be disappointed. But a picture can not be uploaded
without
>a pre-existing page. The challenge is to create mostly pages for which we
can
>add a picture immediately. Once a respectable page with picture is created
all
>sorts of information and additional pictures may be added. The data that is
>there can be searched in almost every conceivable way. But at present the
>challenge is to get into place enough of the basic structure, (individual
>pages) so that it can begin to be useful. Davesb Garden claims to have
8,000
>Iris entries right now. I hope that we will have that many by Spring. But
>obviously that can only be accomplished with a large number of docents.  If
>you are willing to follow some simple instructions and help with the heavy
>lifting of cutting, pasting and editing I would be happy to have you as a
>docent. I can provide materials that will make the task easy.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Linda Mann" <lmann@lock-net.com>
>To: iris@hort.net
>Sent: Friday, December 4, 2009 11:39:03 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
>Subject: [iris] Re: wikiup for our photo data base (was Bulletin)
>
>I had to look up docent.  Sounds like these are volunteer teachers?  So
>are the docents going to teach the photo contributers, or something else?
>
><I am training docents one at a time and hopefully by end of January I
>will have about 100>
>
>Linda Mann
>east TN
>
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