I'm thinking of writing a new chat room application for Lush as a side project. I've brain dumped some ideas, I would appreciate anyone's opinion on this, I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to chat rooms.
- Avatars (16x16 pixels). User can pick from a selection, or upload/choose their own. Same as with their avatar's.
- Emotions. Pick from a selection of emotion graphics.
- Talk to individual, or all in chat room.
- Whisper to a user, only they and the recipient can see the message (moderator's can see these too?)
- Change font, colour, size of your messages (IMO I don't think we should allow changing font size).
- Add user as a friend. This adds them to your profile as a friend too.
- Block users. They cannot see you online, or your messages. This effects other areas of the site too.
- Private chat. Open a private chat window. I was thinking of just using the existing messenger type chat window we all ready have. I don't like how the current chat room ads it in as a floating layer over the chat. You can't see what's going on behind it!
- Users have the ability create their own temporary rooms, which they become the moderator on. They can block, invite people to this new room. The room is destroyed when they leave (after a time delay in case they loose their connection?). Anyone left behind when the instigator leaves, is booted out.
- Cyber. I was thinking on using the temporary room creation feature above, specifically for the user of cyber sex. Maybe make it a bit sexy, custom background's, bedroom, etc? What would enhance the experience? Allowing images to be shown in the chat window? Allow the playing of a gallery of images from the user's profile, any ideas here welcome! This needs a bit more fleshing out, but I think you get my drift here!
- Maybe some kind of rep (reputation system) can help self-regulate these rooms? I was thinking, regulars gain reputation points (some how, to be determined!). When they reach a certain level, they have mod type powers in the chat rooms. Therefore, those how spend their time in these rooms, become mods, who have the power to kick people out.
Others ideas, comments or suggestions welcome!
I dont think mod's should be allowed to see whispers... ever
I say Thank you two for all you do and for all the time you put into the site.
Gav you are awesome man!!!!
Timestamps Gav, Timestamps!
Whispers should be able to be seen by a mod, but only in special occasions and the people whispering should get a notion about that the mod can see it. It could really help when someone is saying "this person isn't leaving me alone in whispers."
though I think it would be better to just get a functional personal ban and/or silence. I like the idea of a mod to show his/her point by silencing someone who's not behaving, for say 5 min. Something like a warning before throwing the person out.
To have rep. points to determine who will be a room mod can be a bit risky.
There are quite many people who are not fit for the post. People who get offended way too easy and people who let anything slip through their fingers.
For the cyber thing. I sure do like the idea. I don't think the background should be behind the text though. It could be a bit messy for people with bad eyesight. (hihi though you know I'm much for plain design when it comes to programs)
I also like the idea of changing the size of everyones text for yourself rather than your own. that way I don't have to wear my glasses to read what people say... hihi meaning I could be sleeping comfortable :P
*walks away to think of things I want*
Agree whispers should be just that whispers between 2 individuals, I know the PM function is there for the more private discussion, but sometimes a whisper makes sense at that time.
I for one would not like a 3rd party to see my whispers, rather have the block function working if you can find time to debug the code and fix it.
I will second the timestamp notion, however given the various timezones, there needs to be an understanding that the timestamp is say GMT.
Another option is to regularly refresh the chat room to cleanup ghosts, not sure if possible but.....maybe on a timer.......
A button when in whisper mode to hide others posts.
Just throwing a few ideas out there.
need to give it some more thought.
Ducky
Rubber Ducky your the one, you make my life so much fun
I would like to see a way that we could freeze the chat as you often miss part of the conversation when you are typing a message. If you scroll up and someone posts a new message it automatically goes back to the bottom. On a busy day it is almost impossible to see what you have missed.
Also is it possible to have a hotkey for whisper. I use a laptop and quite often forget to click on whisper and just hit enter. Have had some embarrassing moments in the past lol
I suggest an invisible option for the mods. Sometimes if I get called into the chat for a problem, and the problem person sees me they quit making trouble. It would be nice to be able to go to chat as invisible and check things out. And when I say invisible I really mean it! No icon popping up saying the mod is online or anything. I think this would work for the main mods, not the chat mods. Usually when chat mods cant handle things is when I step in.
♥ Listen, touch, and look around in the air and on the ground. If you watch all nature's things, you might just see a fairy's wings. ♥
Excellent suggestion pixie. Agree with you 100%. They do stop and then restart as soon as a mod is gone.
Thats a perfect use for the temporary chat rooms, you can call them anything you like.
If you build it, they will come. At least thats what I'm hoping for with my Star Wars themed room, anyone?
I have a suggestion too. Umm *shy* what about backgrounds for profiles? Like to show each member's creativity. I like the whole red and white theme, but I think it would be cool to really get to know other members without just looking at pictures and reading their likes or dislikes. Just saying.
Backgrounds tend to make the text very difficult to read.
It's one of the main reasons all the top social sites like Facebook and Twitter use plain white.
I am also wondering what kind of photos people are likely to want to use in the backgrounds - who would make sure nothing unsavoury goes up?
See you in 2012 Gav, I wondered why you weren't returning my emails, this crowd have you all tied up.
Maybe an option for timestamps is that they are hidden in the chat room window, but when you save the chat log the timestamps for each message are saved with it.
Obviously a wish list item, because I bet poor Gav will have to weigh up between functionality/features and usability
Damn just had a great idea and now it is gone...come on brain work for me.
Rubber Ducky your the one, you make my life so much fun
Maybe an auto spell checker that highlights miss-spelt words as you type.
This is a personal pref, due to my poor typing skills.
Rubber Ducky your the one, you make my life so much fun
Not really trinity.
I want timestamps everywhere.
But if it could be an optional feature, it would be for the best.
I think the reason they are freezing is the way they were written. They are using a bloated javascript framework from Microsoft.
Mine will be lean.......
Keeping adding your wishlist to this thread, I am monitoring this for feature suggestions.
We could point, laugh, and throw popcorn at them. 
or
I really need some sleep LOL
I am only suggesting this because today a very dear friend whispered to me her email. Well she thought she whispered....
This happens alot. 
