Suggestions

Finding this site impossible to work with. It has changed so much from when I first joined I dont think I will be renewing my membership. Why couldn't they leave it alone.

Ann Boswell

What do you suggest then ladies...as this is the Suggestions board.

Feedback can be given via this link

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/help.page/contact/support/feedback



:-)

HI All, My name is Ryan.
I'm lead designer on Genes Reunited. Over the next year, I will be doing a lot of testing into the site's usability and how to make things better. Part of this process is to be more focused on designing for our members and involving them in every step of the process.

I 'm sorry to hear that you are having some issues and I would be interested to hear the specifics of any problems you are having.

Thanks

Ryan

Hello Ryan, pleased to meet you!
I don't have many problems with the site myself, as many do, but I have left some feedback about the new tree, it doesn't seem to do all that it's supposed to.

Welcome to the madhouse we call the boards Ryan :-D

Do people contact you regarding feedback via your profile or via the link I posted above ?

Hello, Ryan. Would you like to find a yellow star for yourself, please :)

" a lot of testing into the site's usability and how to make things better. "

- how does that differ from Phil Moir's development?

Hello Ryan,

GR will never win,it was a grumble for years the site needed upgrading,,,,,,well 2005 it was improved from the dire site from 2003 it caused an uproar with many vowing not to renew ,but they are still active :-D 2007,saw anther improvement which met with sour response,,2009 saw another slight change and now 2012 the same gripes rumble on.....how can there be an improved site bringing it in contrast with other sites if changes are wanted but want it to remain the same?

Changes mean just that,a change on how the site will work,it takes time to get to grips with anything new.

There is one slight improvement I would like to see and thats,,,,
HIGHLIGHTED in colour the board headings GR post ,

mind there was a time when we coloured our own posts ,,,,,,,,, :-D :-D :-D

& we broke Genes PMSL ! :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

:-D :-D :-D

Hello Ryan

Nice to "meet" you


We have been assured that GR staff all have a yellow Star next to their name.


That is how we know postings are "kosher"


Would you please like to get yourself a star?


I note that you have a similar job description to Phil Moirs, and even use the same research tag line.

Is Phil still with GR, or have you replaced him?



My very first suggestion for you would be to take the time to read very carefully ALL the postings on this Suggestions Board

.... and do an analysis on them.


That will give you some idea of the problems that have been identified by US, the members, in getting the site to work.

It might also be helpful for you to scan ALL the other Boards ..... there are also "problems with GR" threads on General, Genealogy Chat and Find Ancestors!


We have been asked multiple times to "please let me know the problem" by several members of the GR team ..... and it all comes to naught.

I'm tired of hearing that phrase. It's "start at the beginning every bloomin' time"!

The problems have been affecting people, and their enjoyment of this site, for well over a year, and especially since the changes in August.

You should be able to get a very good idea of what is wrong by doing as I suggested above ........ read the threads on this Board.


It is of course very interesting that some members have a lot of problems, some have a few, and some have none. No-one, except possibly GR, know how many are included in each group ....... and one also has to assume that many members do not complain.

All kinds of different servers and browsers are being used ...... all of them work for some people but not for others

We are in all countries around the world ........... and have problems at different times of the day and night.



Good luck!




sylvia

Hi Ryan, as well as a star how about a baby picture for the Meet the Team page.

The previous post took so long to appear I thought I must have forgotten to press Submit. Consequently it posted twice. I went to Gene Chat and back before it appeared.

Hi All,

OK I've got my star now; it’s good to finally be on here.
I work closely with Phil and the GR development team.

I just wanted to ask a more specific question. If you were to improve or change the boards what would you all recommend? I appreciate there are other things that are frustrating you in other parts of the site, but hopefully in turn we will be able to address each one as we continue to make improvements. One thing I'm keen on is to try to do my best in listening to the community as to where the site fails. I can't guarantee every fix will get implemented straight away but if we are collecting as much feedback as possible we will have a better idea of what to fix in future.
I've seen that there are some mentions of search on the boards being buggy (Phil is aware already) and I've listed this down as one of the things that needs to be addressed.

If there is anything else anyone wants to add Just send me a message or reply to this post.

Thanks

Ryan

Hi Ryan,

Main guidelines of all boards would serve better in eyecatching highlighting, bright colours draw the eye.

The dark green menu boxes needs to given a makeover also as they seem to merge into one for people whos sight isnt 100%.

Ta..


:-D : ;-)

Hi Ryan

Have you read all of the suggestions on this board?
Maybe you could yay or nay those and then have a tidy up once you have let the members know what you are doing?

Good luck. :-D

lol which all goes to show you can't please everyone, I disagree with Kay (no offence Kay!) :-D I have really bad eyes but find the green is much less trying than other sites where the bright colours DO draw the eye and make it hard to 'see' anything else :-)

However having said that I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to make GRs own posts of guidance (at the top of LR for instance) more colourful so perhaps people would notice and read before posting.

Hi All,

Yes I've been looking through all the suggestions. There's a lot to take in so may take me a while to go through them all :)

In reply to Kay:
I was thinking it's quite hard to see stickied threads. Just a small icon maybe this could be highlighted.

Thanks

Ryan

Hi Ryan

Welcome to the Boards.

I see from your profile in "Meet the Team" that you are primarily involved with Web Site Design.

Personally, I am quite happy with the present colours but you can't expect to please everyone.
Perhaps you could develop some Themes that could be implimented from the Menu so that we can choose what is suitable for ourselves?

It seems that at the moment there are many compatability issues for different Web Browsers that need to be solved first though.

Have also noticed that when trying to give feedback, once the Preview button is pressed, the "Send" button is partly obscured at thye bottom of the screen.

Yes the "Search" is a bit cumbersome at the moment but I think that is because it also searches on Content which can take somewhat more time than some people seem prepared to wait. Perhaps a limit to "posted in the last "x" years" would help to speed things up?.

I have also noticed some inconsistancy between the term "Thread" and "Topic". The Icon Key "Closed Threads" and we also have My Threads" but on the Right, the word "Topic" is used ie "Topic" in Headings and button "Add Topiic"
Perhaps we could just have "Threads" throughout?

Gooo luck

Jeremy

Rose ~~~~ thats what I meant..GRs own posts ,ie guidelines,





;-) :-D

Thanks Ryan

All the other issues I can cope with as I'm sure will get sorted, :-)