A2KDev

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A2K Website Development Notes

General considerations

• clean, friendly design
• multilingual
• accessible to all browsers, including text-only browsers / visually impaired
• F/LOSS
• easy to use backend for updating/editing content
• need to decide CMS: drupal, mambo, mir, or other?

Site sections [to be prioritized and arranged in categories]

• News
• Press Releases
• Blog(s)

• Calendar

• Access to Knowledge Country Watch List A2KWatch

• Action

• Downloads
  • [first poster here: http://www.cptech.org/a2k/how2saya2k-draft1.pdf]

• Links [?]

• Contact

• Logo competition

• About

• History of A2K

• A2K Treaty text [May 9th draft: http://www.cptech.org/a2k/consolidatedtext-may9.pdf]

• Short summary explanations for libraries, software patents, essential medicines, etc. (work on this list of issue areas)

Priority Tools/Features

• calendar
• provide RSS feed(s)
• Pull RSS feeds from relevant sites: A2kFeeds is an ongoing list of sites to pull from.
  • WIPO feed: http://www.ipjur.com/2005/03/wipo-has-extended-rss-10-feeds-support.php3
  • IP-watch feed: http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/wp-rss.php
• PayPal (or alternative) to gather campaign donations.
• host logo design competition. means media gallery and user rating compatible w/CMS.

Possible Features

• support a mass email activist list (can base on DIA tools or other in dev by protest.net)
• Petition(s). An ongoing text of support for A2K. To build email list and deliver 'pressure' at key points in IP negotiations.
• internationalization of key materials (include open translation tool?)
• moderated open publishing area
• SMS list (a la IMC breaking news text for RNC)
• wiki, with point person/people responsible for pulling comments from list and entering on wiki
• possible tools for internal campaign communication including: transmail (autotranslation for mailing lists developed by CoopdelSur); chat room coordination (see irc.indymedia.org); regular int'l audio/videoconference (skype/iChat), wiki for transparency (meeting minutes, materials for translation, etc.)
• existing email list (A2K)

Graphic design needs:

• logo
• site header
• web banner (for other sites to use w/link)
• poster for download [first poster here: http://www.cptech.org/a2k/how2saya2k-draft1.pdf]

Other ideas

• flash and short film contests
• Audio PSAs (Maybe do competition through Odeo. I know, not graphic but...)
• etc. (tshirts, mousepads, screen saver, firefox plugin, videogame, etc.)

Text needs

• What is A2K?
• History of A2K
• Short topical summaries by area?
• Logo competition call that specifies the conceptual/aesthetic/technical requirements.

TIMELINE

• June 15: start work, elaborate workplan, more detailed calendar.
• July 1: tech tool review to meet expressed campaign needs and priorities. begin building website w/selected tools.
• August 1: beta version of site ready for feedback from existing A2K community.
• September 1: site goes public w/high profile event. For example, launch w/announcement of thought thieves (or other A2K themed) shorts contest.

LINKS

• A2K Ukrainian site: http://www.a2k.org.ua/

OTHER NOTES

• A2K campaign will not only be focused on the A2K treaty
• Want to be able to highlight country level activity
• Group of academics are putting together A2K watchlist: positive reverse 301 list (list of countries with best access to knowledge).
• Discussion in Chile on exceptions for libraries and blind. trying to push it regionally.
• Calendar
• Info sharing about best practices
• e-activists lists sound good
• donations ok but no immediate plans to make it 501(c)3
• Most important community to start with is NGOs, government delegates, people involved in int'l negotiations.
• Not targeted to geeks.
• FAQ sections. I'll write first texts and then consult with folks from different constituencies.
• Communicate what A2K is about.
• Positive campaign.
• Accessibility is really important - text only, accessible for blind only
• need to have slogans. positive. (Access to Knowledge. It's a human right. Access to Knowledge. Make it happen. Access to Knowledge. It's Essential.)
• Try to minimize bashing corporations.
• It's also about rights. Not only exceptions. For example, right to access government information.

A2K logo ideas

• Here is a logo from Ukrainian A2K site:

simple icons to represent each branch of knowledge A2K will give access to.

• pharma - pill
• ag - seed, plant, or flower
• software - string of binary code
• music (av material) - soundwave
• etc.

represent chain of human knowledge production - building on the past

• a spiral?
• pyramid? but that would need an apex.
• circle of people all transmitting to each other?

A2k website dev timeline, July 5-Aug 1

• create timeline (today)
• establish preliminary & priority functional requirements (today)
• decide on CMS (by July 7)
• install CMS (by July 12)
• design template (by July 19) [question: temporary logo?]
• configure sections/components/blocks (by July 27)
• add content (by Aug 1)