Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:45:10 GMT

Oh, and another thing: we've also added a little 'NEW' icon to appear next to content headlines on the home page which have been added in the last 48 hours. At the moment, this applies to everything in the right hand column (except the forums, which are now so busy that all posts would always be 'new' which slightly defeats the point). It will be added to the 'Horse's Mouth' content on the left soon.

Idea being to help you pick out the new stuff on the home page at a glance.

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:42:32 GMT

[quote user="Stephen Ashman"]I found it hard to find anything in the wiki section so gave up pretty quickly. Perhaps it's not user-friendly enough?[/quote]

Yesterday, we installed a new, much more powerful search system on VetSurgeon.org.

Most importantly, the search now includes everything in the wiki section of the site. So if you were looking for Virbac's telephone number, for example, type Virbac and its directory entry will appear in the results.

The new search tool also allows for a wide range of search expressions. For the moment, the most useful is likely to be that (like google), you can search for a phrase by enclosing words inside double quotes. Eg "Virbac Ltd"

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:14:59 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"]Veterinary Directory: I have never looked at it until now - it could be useful, though would need to be much more complete than it currently is, and given that the vetindex is so comprehensive and easy to use, there may be little point in trying to reinvent the wheel (sorry, not intending to advertise your competitors - just trying to be constructive!) [/quote]

Hi Rob,

Yes, I did think about reinventing the wheel. I suppose the main difference between our system and VetIndex is that ours is community-based, which means that:

a) All members can have their entry free, and the listing is not restricted to those who can afford to advertise. So I would hope that this could be more comprehensive (same reason as we have such a good selection of events in the diary).

b) Far greater social aspect, by which I mean that members can comment beneath entries to say whether they think the company / service etc. is any good! And you can connect with service providers in a way that means you won't get bombarded with sale info forever after (ask for more info via the conversation feature on the advertiser's profile, and they won't get your e-mail address unless you want to give it!)

It's a big old job researching all the entries, but I think the I'll keep on plugging away at it.

Definitely going to work on the video content and searchability. At the moment, everything in the site except wiki content is searchable i.e. you have to navigate round wiki content.

But I am looking at fixing that issue very soon.

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Rob Davis — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:21:36 GMT

Hi Arlo

Veterinary Directory: I have never looked at it until now - it could be useful, though would need to be much more complete than it currently is, and given that the vetindex is so comprehensive and easy to use, there may be little point in trying to reinvent the wheel (sorry, not intending to advertise your competitors - just trying to be constructive!)

After reading your post I had a look at Malcolm Ness's powerpoint presentation on spinal cord disease, and I feel that this sort of thing could be very useful. The problem I find with the wiki is knowing what's there (I admit I haven't explored it very thoroughly!). It would be useful for people to be able to post papers there relating to topics being discussed in the forums.

As others have mentioned, video clips may also be useful eg fitting or collapsing dogs, demonstrations of surgical procedures etc. There would need to be a suitable search facility or index to make it useful (and will obviously take time for the contents to build up).

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:14:50 GMT

Thank you everyone. Interesting. Perhaps I'm wrong, then. Need to improve visibility and usability of the wikis. But looking at the interest in the galleries, that is also something I agree Mike, needs further work on.

Welcome any more thoughts!

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Mike Martin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:35:09 GMT

Developing the Gallery of photos and movies.

The snakebite case has great photos, but they're not yet in the Gallery for reference and searching in the future.

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Stephen Ashman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:02:06 GMT

seems to have changed since I last looked! It's better now.

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Stephen Ashman — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:06:28 GMT

I found it hard to find anything in the wiki section so gave up pretty quickly. Perhaps it's not user-friendly enough?

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:54:11 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"] I mean, you just google what you need, surely![/quote]

No.

If you don't already have a good idea where to look, you go to VetIndex.

Google is for people who like wasting time.

Re: Help - What would YOU like to see added to VetSurgeon

listhestar — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:43:29 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

As to a directory - well, with hindsight, I'm not really convinced that a directory is all that useful these days. I mean, you just google what you need, surely!

[/quote]

Well Arlo I must admit I hadn't realised we had a directory- it is kind of hidden. I would use this directory over and above google because it's easier and quicker.[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

2. Do you think a more informal repository for sharing documents / presentations amongst members would be useful / interesting or not?

[/quote]

Yes it would be useful- how do you maintain the copyright though- would people publish novel research on here for fear of it being 'burrowed' (I hope we are honest bunch here but just thinking from another point of view.

Could it be that the people that do research are not aware of this area or maybe a few more research minded members need to join?

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]1. Remove the veterinary directory and the abstracts section, and replace them with a new, more informal section for members to share documents and presentations of any sort. For example, when a specialist gives a talk, they might publish their powerpoint presentation afterwards for everyone [/quote]

That however also sounds like a nice idea.

Sorry I have rambled a little and jumped all over the place. Other members will probably be more succint!

Lisa