Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 19, 2014, at 4:13 AM, Brian E Carpenter <brian.e.carpenter@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > >> I was concerned when I first heard of this that it would result in a >> website that would call for flashy software on a gee-whiz device to >> be able to carry on participating in the work of the IETF. I note, >> however, that while the SOW talks of getting the work done, the SOW is >> limited to www.ietf.org. Checking History, I find I last used that when >> planning to attend IETF89 and before that, I cannot recall when. > > I think you're overlooking that there is lots of informational > material at www.ietf.org/* for people who may not strictly be > newcomers but are still learning. I'm still learning, and use > much of that material frequently. > > Of the ~50 links off http://www.ietf.org/content.html, I counted > only 6 links to the datatracker. > >> So if www.ietf.og was made gee-whiz and flashy, it would not affect me; >> and perhaps that website, which is what the innocent browser would most >> likely stumble across in a search for the IETF, should be gee-whiz and >> flashy to advertise better who we are and what we do, to give us more >> street cred.. > > That's the outreach mission. Different audience. It might be useful to get feedback from newcomers to the past few IETF meetings to get their perspective. Many of is are used to the interface and have adapted, even prefer it's simplicity. I did get questions from a few newcomers in Berlin about the web site, thinking the IETF was a bit out of touch and behind the times. This may make it difficult to attract newcomers and younger engineers. Best regards, Kathleen > > Brian > >> >> Of course, if graphics, moving images and incredibly clever java >> (that always misguesses what I am about to do) were to mission creep in >> the direction of the datatracker, then that would be disastrous for me; >> but as long as this is only www.ietf.org, then it could be a good thing. >> >> Tom Petch >