April 8, 2006
Introduction to RockNet
Jonathan Walker
Roald Schrack
Bob Ekman
April 8, 2006 2
Agenda
RockNet Mission City Relationship
Services Web Links Web Hosting Email Lists Web Camera Wireless Internet Access Consultation
Web Pages Wireless Internet Access
April 8, 2006 3
RockNet
Rockville Community Network Non-Profit Corporation (501(c)(3))
Founded in 1996
All volunteer board and administration Web site: http://www.rocknet.org
Since 1997 Over 600 visitors a day
Meetings: 3rd Thursday of month at City Hall Anyone invited to participate
April 8, 2006 4
Mission
To promote communications between citizens, community groups, businesses, and the Rockville city government.
We support connections to your neighbors, your communities, and local information resources through Internet technologies, including a web site and an e-mail list server.
We are building a network with a community focus that provides a presence for organizations that are under-represented on the web.
Your RockNet.
April 8, 2006 5
City Relationship
City provides the servers, software, and Internet connection for our online services.
We maintain the server content (web pages, email lists, etc.).
City provides support for meetings and system administration.
We help the City with new technology and related initiatives.
We complement City services.
April 8, 2006 6
Services
Web Page Links Web Page Hosting Email List Server Web Camera Wireless Internet Access Community Calendar (planned) Consultation and Advice
April 8, 2006 7
Home Page
April 8, 2006 8
Second
Level
Web
Page
April 8, 2006 9
Web Page Links
RockNet web pages link to many other web sites that relate to the RockNet mission.
If you would like a link to your web site, send a note to [email protected].
Must provide service to Rockville citizens through the Internet.
Non-profit organizations may be listed without a link.
April 8, 2006 10
Web Page Hosting
Web space for non-profit organizations that are associated with Rockville.
Options: RockNet administrator will post your web pages, or You can administer your pages directly.
User Accounts – forms online
FTP (File Transfer) upload/download
Separate directories for production and test.
April 8, 2006 11
Email List Server
A way you can communicate with others in the Rockville on-line community.
A "list" is a group of e-mail addresses such that by sending a note to a single e-mail account, all members of the list get a copy of the note.
Some lists are “open” to all, some are “closed”. General discussion list is [email protected],
you need to join first ([email protected]). We can set up one for your group, but you
need to administer it from the web.
April 8, 2006 12
Web Camera
Webcam pointed at downtown development
Mounted on Victoria Condominiums
Refreshed every minute Archived every hour Started October 1, 2004
April 8, 2006 13
Web Camera Images
October 1, 2004 February 1, 2005 June 1, 2005
October 1, 2005 February 1, 2006
April 8, 2006 14
Wireless Internet Access
Wireless Internet access at the Regal Row in downtown Rockville
Setup
Register on-line
Unplugging Video
April 8, 2006 15
Web Page Consultation
You need a web administrator We can help with design and structure issues Think of it as a journalist task Keep it simple, clean, user friendly Consider your audience – your community Grow your skills and your web site Planning a web author class Email [email protected]
April 8, 2006 16
Web
Page
Example
April 8, 2006 17
Web Page Markup Language (HTML)
<html>
<head>
<title>Your Organization's Name</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor=#fffbef>
<h1><img src="yourlogo.gif" width=200 height=200>Your Organization's Name</h1>
<hr>
<p>Introduction to your organization.
<p>The mission and purpose of your organization.
<ul>
<li><a href="calendar.html">Calendar</a>
<li><a href="members.html">Members and Officers</a>
<li><a href="minutes.html">Meeting Minutes</a>
<li><a href="newsletters.html">Newsletters</a>
</ul>
April 8, 2006 18
Web Site Tools
Browser: Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Firefox Editor: Nvu (free), FrontPage ($),
Dreamweaver ($$) File Transfer: WS_FTP
Use the material on our CD and try to build a page now!
April 8, 2006 19
Web Page Tips
Keep it simple. Plan to revise some of your pages frequently. Use obvious navigation techniques. Keep material free of litigation inducing comments. Important information should be toward the top. Use high contrast, few fonts, color schemes. Relate pages to Rockville Maryland. Indicate page owner and contact information. Use photos, limit graphics.