Now, it wouldn’t be effective for each member to work in isolation then pass the work on to another member. But for collaboration, you need a lot of teamwork. Respect. Compromise.

To communicate, they used iChat and Gmail.

Stassi worked with Santa Maria on the layout of the map pages. Originally the map was small but - that’s not what users wanted. Finally, Santa Maria ‘compromised’ by spreading it across the page.

Sieber says put a comment at the end of the div tag to help teammates identify which style was used.

Inman’s tip: Forms are tags too. You don’t need to use an extra id tag. He also left comments in his code (eg Google Maps API scripting) for teammates.

He took Eric Meyer’s example of using CSS to imitate an atomic bomb at work, and adapted it into a large ‘spotlight’ which focused on a spot on the map. [Just did a search. This is Eric Meyer’s original map. ]

Stassi pointed out that Plaze’s buddy list was initially overwhelming because it showed everybody. So it was redeveloped to show the user’s friends first.

Accessibility

Plazes.com had to work in a screen reader, for people who prefer larger font sizes, people who are unable to navigate the usual way.

Page by page improvements

HOME PAGE

Problems: 1) Login field was hard to find. (Inman) 2) Couldn’t see the ‘Register’ link clearly. (Sieber) 3) Content written from technical manner. (Dimon) 4) Strange image which had no real purpose. (Stassi) 5) The search box was labeled ‘search strong’ - programme speak! (Santa Maria)

Improved version: 1) Map shown 2) Clearer register link 3) Privacy statement was clear (Dimon) 4) More customised information (Sieber)

DASHBOARD

Problems: 1) Navigation was disconnected and very confusing (Inman) 2) iFrame friend’s list was really, really long (Sieber) 3) One large white space in the middle of the site (Dimon) 4) No customisation - all links from everybody (Stassi)

Improved version: 1) Plain language (Santa Maria) 2) New range finder. For those in small urban places, the old measurement in km didn’t make sense (Stassi). 3) Combined search engine to find places and people (Dimon) 4) Big map (Santa Maria) 5) Checkboxes to allow users to view what they wanted - Friends, Friends of Friends, Everyone (Inman) 6) Removed iFrames, used AJAX instead (Inman)

PLACE PAGE

1) Very small map. Too little weightage given (Siebel,Dimon) 4) Can’t tell that comments can be made - link too small and not getting used (Stassi)

Improved version: 1) Larger map. (Santa Maria) 2 and 3) Images from Flickr put together with comments. (Sieber, Inman)

MAP PAGE

Inman used the GoogleMaps API to make maps resize on the fly. The team shows off the new site (hiding the URL from us).

The main point is that when working in a team, there must be enough mutual respect for each other’s specialties, to minimise conflict. Sieber’s tip: Take them out for lunch!

[Update 26/3/06: View the new Plazes.com design. I hope they get VC funding and this new design can replace the existing one! Signed up with Plazes last week but haven’t found any Singaporeans around. ]