cpaptalk Coming Attractions

Howdy,

About a month ago now I posted a poll asking cpaptalk users what feature we didn't offer they would most like to see. There were many good ideas that will eventually be seen around cpaptalk, but the leading vote getter was a CPAP User Encyclopedia.

As the coders and management discussed this idea it kept growing and getting more exciting. It's a good idea, but the central focus of cpaptalk will always be, well - talking. We don't want users to have to choose between the Encyclopedia and talking. We want the Encyclopedia to support the talking!

How do we do this? Well, we'll have to do it in phases but, here's the game plan:

1. We at cpaptalk.com create a list of common keywords and associate them with links. When someone makes a post and types the word CPAP, it becomes a link to the CPAP comparison chart. When someone types BiPAP, it links to the BiPAP compare chart, etc.

There are situations where people come in and know kind of what they want, but not totally. If someone is a side sleeper and wants to know whats out there for them, a reponding user can simply type "Check out the Breeze". Breeze will them auto-link to the product page of the breeze. In this way, people talking can always call references without having to dig up the information each time.

Also, since some would rather dig it up themselves, or just want to retain the right to link only when they choose, users will have the option to opt out of having their posts auto-linked.

2. Allow cpaptalk users to submit new keywords and their associated links. These submissions will be reviewed, approved, and made into autolinks.

3. Allow cpaptalk users to submit instructional content that relates to keywords. For example, users are always asking if they can safely add decongestants to their humidifier water. Someone could suggest the keyword "Humidifier Additives" and write up an article outlining what is safe to add and what isn't. CPAP Phone support will also be writing a lot of articles on all sorts of topics and publishing them in this system.

Users could access these writeups by clicking auto-linked keywords in posts or by requesting a link of all keywords submitted. Once one gets 200-300 written up keywords, one has a CPAP User Encyclopedia and cpaptalk'ers have the ability to work in common on one best answer to each common question and then reference it easily.

In this way, the community won't be undercut by the CPAP User Encyclopedia but rather, will have a way to come together further for the benefit of each user.

I'm really excited about this! We are looking at putting #1 in place within a day or two and following up with #2 and #3 over the next two months.

However, I'm very interested in feedback and not opposed to changing course if better ideas are offered. Please let me know what you think.

Johnny

Great Idea.

Wow!

I'm impressed. This sounds truly wonderful, and wonderfully needed! I can't wait to see it implemented! Us grateful folks sure owe cpaptalk a great deal. Not only is this forum a godsend and a terrific source of information, comfort and encouragement, but the folks who run the forum are willing and enthusiastic about making it even better.

I urge all members and guests to offer cpaptalk a big round of applause!




Linda

Leave it to Johnny and crew to innovate once again. It's an honor to be associated with this forum and your efforts to make it an even better place to share and learn.

Standing Ovation

Hey Johnny that all sounds great!! Thanks for making it better for us! I know that as a newbie ..... still, I don't always understand all the words that are used but feel stupid to ask what they are.... so thank you!!

May I make a suggestion, is there any way we can also get our own "Chat Room" where we are able to get quicker responses to our questions. Right now we have to wait and see if anyone is even at the least interested in our topic before we can get an answer. Or is there a "Chat Room" already and I just don't see it anywhere?

Howdy,

We've thought about chat rooms before. Here's what we're thinking:

1. Will it work for all people with all computer and connection types? There will be a lot of troubles and support required. We want to make sure that each service we offer works for a very, very high percentage of people.

2. Chat rooms are often poorly visited. It's depressing to enter a chat with a question and see no one there.

3. CPAP Phone Support has standing orders to never let a serious question with zero replies at the end of a day go unanswered. Luckily, they are always all over it and we haven't had problems getting everyone an answer.

4. Why chat with someone random when you can chat with a professional CPAP expert toll free? 1-800-356-5221.

5. If you don't want to phone, why not ask us your question directly? https://www.cpap.com/questionsubmission.shtml

With all that said, after we get this CPAP User Encyclopedia off the ground, I will include Live Chat as an upgrade option. If you can get out the votes, I'll get you a chat - deal?

Johnny

Johnny,

How does AOL do it? They have people with all kinds of connections.... High Speed, Modem, No Speed... etc

But, yeah... thanks!

A list of definitions and abbreviations placed as a permanent sticky at the top of this forum would be more helpful to newcomers than anything I can imagine.

I agree about chat rooms. They sound good in principle, but there aren't really enough active people here to sustain one. Yes, you don't get IMMEDIATE feedback, but I've rarely seen a serious question go more than a few hours without a response, and I've rarely seen a question which absolutely required an immediate response.

I think the programming time involved in setting up a chat room (to say nothing of keeping one running, they're notoriously difficult to keep everyone in and visible, judging based on the few I've been in before) would be wasted, as people quickly found that the few people who were always there were generally idle when a topic came up anyway.

My two cents. I do love this place, FYI.

Liam, who has to stop giving everyone his two cents. They REALLY add up over time.

That's awesome....sounds like a lot of work, but it will be worth it. I lurk on USENET at the other forums, and I just love this one. One definitely gets considerable a lot more objective info here.

Keep up the good work!!