Embedding MSG maps in LabSpace Moodle
Fixed quite a few little bugs and other things we needed to get sorted out this week, for example transferring the Moodle MSG block so that it uses the MSG API that we’ve developed. That required a few changes to be made to how the API worked – though only additions rather than changing how it worked originally.
We also released the latest version of the MSGAlert tool (v2.1 – more info) which now includes a link to the MSG presence map. Currently this is only available for the msg.open.ac.uk server (and not msg-openlearn.open.ac.uk, but that’s coming soon). Marc has been demonstrating (amongst other things!) our MSG maps implementation as the EleGI project review meeting this week. This gives a good cohort of users from across Europe to test out the maps and find if there are other remaining bugs or things we could improve.
This morning I also started to look at embedding the maps within the Moodle MSG block, my thinking at the moment is to put a very small Goolge map with in the block (if you are logged in) and the map would centre on your location and put a marker there of you online, but then to view all the other users you would need to click on a link (or on the map) to launch the full MSG presence map. So somthing like…
In fact this is already up and working on my development server. Just not sure that the map isn’t a little too big? Another quesion I’ve got is what to do when users aren’t logged in? I want to show somthing of the map – to try and “entice” people to sign in, rather than just a text link or nothing at all. Maybe it should show a short demo video of how to use the maps – something which I ought to produce anyway? Any other suggestions gratefully received 
In case you are wondering, I’m not planning on having all the users contacts displayed on the embedded block map, users will have to go to the actual MSG Presence Map page for this. The reason being that it’s potentially to heavy to have all this javascript going on in the background all the time, especially when there may be other block and content doing JavaScript ‘stuff’ too.
“put a very small Goolge map with in the block (if you are logged in) and the map would centre on your location”
Can’t see that it achieves anything although understand why you’d want to do it. Sexy. Less is more
Enticement? Try just a question. “Who’s online?” and point to the presence map.
Quickstart to the demo, which are always excellent.
Cheers Simon.. we’ve now gone with showing a world map with markers showing who is online now, but you only get the markers no actual info (as to who etc) – that should (hopefully!) entice people to then go and view the full map. Should all be going live on LabSpace site by end of April
Alex