Sugar Network/Concept: Difference between revisions

This page is a guide to basic Sugar Network concepts. See [[Platform_Team/Sugar_Network/Architecture|its twin page]] from technical point of view. Besides, visit the [[Sugar_Network|introduction page]].

* The list of provided [[#Resources|resources]] should cover the full circle of low level collaboration behavior between Network participants; when ''low level'' means that [[#Resources|resources]] are all time the same kind for all types of collaboration [[#Context|contexts]];

* The list of provided [[#Resources|resources]] should be thought out so that the Sugar Network is equally useful operating on-line;

* Stimulate a "doing" workflow.

The whole Sugar Network picture is described on the following graphics.

* '''Server'''<br>Server side in general. It might be a server accessible from the Internet (on-line case) or various distributed servers located, e.g., in schools (off-line case). See [[Platform_Team/Sugar_Network|technical pages]] for more details.

* '''Conceptual level'''<br>What this page is exactly about. This is how Sugar Network looks like on conceptual level. From the technical side, this level is represented by Server [[Platform_Team/Sugar_Network/API|application programming interface (API)]] and [[Platform_Team/Sugar_Network/Objects_model|objects model]] in particular.

* '''Client'''<br>This is what Network participants are interacting with. This is a software that let people get access to the Sugar Network and define how Sugar Network should look like from users point of view. User experience, that these clients provide, might be too different from a client to a client. Starting from a couple of elements in the already existing software's [[Wikipedia:Graphical_user_interface|GUI]] (when people even don't suspect they are interacting with the Sugar Network) and ending with clients that represent conceptual level as close as possible.

The Sugar Network is all about:

* to accomplish their [[#Needs|Needs]],

* being changed, Resources broadcast [[#Events|Events]],

* the regular Players' behaviour might be described by the [[#Workflows|Workflows]].

The needs that Sugar Network is trying to solve. They might be explained by the following selection from the [[Wikipedia:Fundamental_human_needs|Fundamental human needs]]:

: Each player should be able to create and manage a unique identity in the network. Every interaction of the player with the network should be accounted on the player's metrics, as eventually this may be part of the player dashboard. Each player may have an individual reputation, according to other players ratings made to his contributions.  

: A player should be able to view all objects and apply the optional filters including the resource type, the Network Zoom level, tags or the associated player/team. In this preview, we may be able to offer basic statistics of the object in order to give analytical perspective to the selection. The player should be able to select the object in order to participate in a deeper level where he should be able to explore the associated resources. As a player, I might receive events from the objects I'm subscribed to as well as personal events like invitations made by other players.

: Any player might be able to comment on any object, rate any contribution, edit any wiki, create any issue, attach any object to any gallery, become a follower of any object.  

: Any player might be able to create a new Context by defining a name, the type of Context and the Context objective(s). A Context creator may be able to invite other players to follow/contribute to his Context.

Any particular Resource, i.e., contributions of some Players, might be voted by another Players. The Reputation of particular Player depends on how other Players appreciate him.

Basing on [[#Events|Events]], it is possible to [[#Understanding|measure]] particular Player's behaviour. It might be useful, e.g., for researchers.

This is exactly the context of Players' behaviour. Being in the current Context, Player are interacting with Resources associated with this Context (or, Contexts linked to the current one).

There is a predefined Context, the Global Context that contains all other Contexts (according to the current [[#Network_Zoom|zoom level]]). So, Players can interact with all Resources accessible on this [[#Network_Zoom|zoom level]].

Context types might be too different. But for now, these are only:

The whole experience within the Sugar Network is about Player's interaction with resources. Resources are tied to the current Context and might be different types: