Thank you for taking the time to join the prototype network. Please let me introduce myself – I am Matthew Fisher, president of Night Kitchen Interactive, the design firm working together with CBOL to launch the new Barcode of Life website and online community. I am contacting you to offer my assistance as you begin to use this network as a sandbox by answering any questions you might have and suggesting a few things that you can do to take the network for a test drive.
Simple Things You Can Do on the Prototype Network
After completing your online profile you should add yourself to the member map – this adds a geographic location to each community member.
Another thing to do is to browse our Forum and ask a question or leave a comment. There isn’t much there yet, but don’t let that stop you.
Please join a Group or start your own, as groups are a great way to express your special interest, be it a taxonomic group, an organization.
Have a question? Ask one of our hosts or Check out our FAQ.
Some Advanced Things You Can Do
Start A Blog: If you have something to say, start a Blog. Simply choose “Add a Blog Post” under Blogs and say what’s on your mind. Blogging has never been easier.
Share Your Blog: If you already have a blog or another online resource, you can share it either on your profile page or through our rss pages.
Manage a Group: Create a group for a specific taxonomic area and invite colleagues to join the network and your group. Use the “Send Message to Group” feature to send out email blasts to your group, start discussion threads specific to your group’s interests, add widgets and more.
For assistance with any of the things, simple or advanced, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Again, thank you for agreeing to participate. By spending just a few minutes trying out some of these activities you will be in a great position to provide CBOL essential feedback as we evaluate the best online tools for the barcoding community. I look forward to seeing you in Mexico City next week where I will be leading workshops on the topic of this online community.