Dear all, ICANN is looking for community volunteers to help improving ICANN’s public comments forum. The volunteers are expected to test and provide feedback on a new prototype of such a forum. The testing period starts 21 November, ends 20 December 2011. If you are interested, please let me know by 18 November 2011. Please, also see email below for further details. Kind regards, Gabi From: Filiz Yilmaz <filiz.yilmaz@icann.org> Subject: [soac-discussion] Public Comments Forum Wiki Community testing Dear Community Leaders, I have communicated before and during Dakar that we are looking into forming a volunteer group to provide feedback on a prototype Public Comments Forum Wiki solution that is an outgrowth of ATRT Recommendations 16 and 17 and our most recent Public Comment solicitation (entitled “Phase II of Public Comments Process Enhancements”), which closed on 15 October 2011. For further information, please see http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-enhancements-ii-31aug1... <http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-enhancements-ii-31aug1...> , which includes links to a Report and Analysis of the public comments received. We are counting on that the members of the Focus Group we have formed back in July will again support us in this new effort. Some community members approached me in Dakar too, volunteering to the take part in the activity. But this email is intended to provide you additional details to help you in identifying other individuals to participate in this activity. Thanks again in advance for your support in this. Purpose: To help ICANN Staff assess the usability and viability of a Public Comments Forum developed on ICANN's Confluence Wiki platform. Scope: This solution was designed to be a replacement of the Public Comment page structures on ICANN.org except that, for technical reasons, Forum Archives whose open dates are prior to any final cutover will remain on ICANN.org and will not be converted to the Wiki environment. The Wiki does, however, link directly to the ICANN.org Archives so that users are only one click from finding the information they seek. Volunteers: To perform a robust and thorough test, we would prefer at least two dozen volunteers and are therefore requesting 2-3 representatives from each ICANN SO, AC or SG. Methodology: To simulate a real Public Comments Forum, our plan is that the group will test features, functions, and interact/collaborate entirely within the Confluence Wiki environment. Details, including links and login information, will be sent to the testers separately. Duration: We anticipate that the testing period will last one month from 21 November 2011 through 20 December 2011 at which point the Wiki site will be closed for Staff evaluation. Content: ICANN Staff will provide to the volunteers a set of specific features and functions to be tested and along with a series of questions to help guide the discussions. Outcomes: The resultant Wiki collaboration and discussion threads will be used by Staff to inform its planning and final disposition of the Wiki platform for Public Comments. Staff will coordinate with the Public Participation Committee (PPC) of the Board and will communicate the decisions and rationale upon completion of all evaluations. I hope you find the above information helpful in identifying and selecting candidates to help with this feedback process. We hope to hear back from you with your volunteer names and their contact details on or before 18 November 2011 in order to start the activity as planned. Kind regards, Filiz Yilmaz Sr Dir Participation and Engagement ICANN ------ End of Forwarded Message