Website basic chat function?

[BioSattva]

Hi all,

I'm wondering whether the site can have a basic chat function like this site has here:
http://www.sciencechatforum.com/chat.php

I know we have looked into google hangouts before, but I think something 'in house' so to speak and only using typing could be a lot more accessible and less daunting for people. Small 'meetings' and meetups could be arranged. We could invite proper teachers and have small feedback sessions, or even just reflections on practice.

What do you think? Is it too much to organise?

[FeeHutch]

I think it could be a really valuable part of the site although I'm not sure how technically challenging it is.
My concern is how we would moderate it to ensure it is not abused by anyone. By this I mean, how can we verify that if a mindfulness teacher is posting, they are who they say they are. The simplest way round this is if you have to be logged in under your forum ID and Gareth, Jon and I are happy that anyone claiming to be a teacher is known to us.
The best way to find out how it would work is to try it out though

[BioSattva]

I was thinking more about planned announced meetups - where the invited teacher will already be known, and any space in-between - if the chat function is still 'live' between meetups - can be presented with disclaimers I would imagine. I mean, any adult entering chats via other communication channels elsewhere makes themselves vulnerable to fake therapists and the like. But I do agree that requiring people to be logged on under their forum ID would be a great requirement to limit tom-foolery.

[Gareth]

It's a great idea.

I just don't have time at the moment to explore all these ideas that are buzzing round my head. If you want to explore this Tristan, please feel free.

[BioSattva]

I just had a quick look around and people seem to recommend this one:

phpBB mChat


Features

Admin can set the settings of the chat in the ACP
Admin can set permissions of who can use what on a per group or per user basis
Admin can set rules in the ACP
Admin can set bbcodes to not use in the ACP
Admin can set flood control in the ACP
Admin can set auto prune feature in the ACP
Admin can choose to display who is chatting on the index page
Admin can choose to set the display of the chat on the index page above or below the forum listing as well as a custom page
Admin can set the height of the chat
Admin can set refresh time for both the chat as well as the stats
Input area for chat messages will autogrow
Chat will not allow submission of chat more than once
Chat uses regular as well as custom bbcodes
Chat uses regular smilies
Users can choose several options in the UCP for the chat
Add-on new posts will get posted into the chat message when made
Admin can choose to have avatars displayed or not (users also have this ability if set to be viewed in the ACP)
Mod utilizes UMIL install file

It looks good enough to me. If anyone else knows more about how to integrate this with a forum, please feel free to make suggestions or give advice.

I have already checked and because it is permission-based the guest function can apparently be disabled.

I think this would be useful and fun. Transcripts - general conversation, quotes, ideas, etc. can be easily saved - comments and statements reviewed, etc., made available for others who could not attend. Stuff google hangouts doesn't offer. It means peoples' efforts and ideas are not blown away in the wind, so to speak. A valuable resource for the website and forum.

[JonW]

And photos of our dogs. e.g. Banjo

[Gareth]

If you want, we could make you an administrator on the forum, and you can have a play around trying to install this.

[BioSattva]

And photos of our dogs. e.g. Banjo

That's defo worth it.

[BioSattva]

If you want, we could make you an administrator on the forum, and you can have a play around trying to install this.

OK - I can do this in a couple of weeks - I have a yiquan 'retreat' starting next week and then I have to get an exhibition piece ready for a foreigner's traditional chinese painting and calligraphy showdown on 20th Oct (!). My teacher wants snow geese, but I'm going for landscape and orchids .

[BioSattva]

So it's all up and running at last - at the bottom of the board index page.

What are we going to do with it?
(apart from bragging about our artistic achievements)