This project focused on analysis and documentation of user experience controls and functions within the open-source Open Conference Systems software. The system was developed to meet needs for web content management and display for specialized applications involving conferences, seminars, and meetings sponsored by organizations without sophisticated web resources to manage the associated online presence. The system accommodates publication of a call for papers, acceptance and review of submitted abstracts, program and session development, registration transactions, and many kinds of related web content. Like many open-source projects, it developed through non-linear processes with limited central coordination, where many different project participants produced new elements and features. Functionality was documented only generally, if at all, and the system had grown to a level of complexity that interactions were confusing and frustrating in the absence of guidance.
Our project involved exploring the control interface, mainly its functions for configuring the display layer, and documenting the choices that conference managers need to make and their steps for doing so. I am taking a risk linking raw project notes here, but the document shows a methodical, analytical approach and a commitment to very thorough specification in service to the OCS user community. The sample website link demonstrates my ability to develop a CSS stylesheet from scratch, within the constraints of occasionally idiosyncratic display code.
Notes document (.docx, 45k) – Category: Information Processing – All Coursework