Last night as I thought a little bit about how I would regulate the contributions to the user-generated book, I came up with a great idea. I’ve decided to use a queue for editing. Here’s how it will work:
Each user who enters the site will see the current content of the book. They can browse the pages of the book and read the story. If a user wants to, they can sign up for an account which allows them to moderate the content that the book contains. As you mouse over the various sentences, it gives you options for reporting grammar, spelling, and content mistakes. Those who have registered as moderators can edit the lines themselves. All other requests will come to me and I will do the moderating.
When a user decides to contribute they click the contribute button. This automatically enters them into the queue. Every few seconds an AJAX request is made that tells the server that the user is still waiting to make a submission. The user can wait or cancel. If the user chooses to wait in the queue, they can still read the story as they way. An indicator shows them how many people are in the queue before them and approximately how long it will be before they are at the beginning.
Once the user is first in line a timer starts. The user must post their content in the alloted time or they have missed their chance. Once they have added their content, it will show up on the site. If the user wishes to contribute again, they must get in the back of the queue.
The main reason I have chosen to approach it this was is because if you don’t give everyone a time slot, the content posts could end up being exactly the same. This will help regulate the content without overlapping content.
I should have the site up pretty soon. I think most will find it enjoyable, as long as they take it seriously. I totally expect to get many users posting garbage, but that is why it will be user moderated by me and others.
