BASECAMP
The following is a paper about one of the best online project management and collaboration tools available right now (March 2006)
Basecamp
http://www.basecamphq.com/
AEC 1100: OUTLINE OF ADULT EDUCATION
Mark Greenspan
What is Basecamp?
Basecamp is a simple-to-use web-based tool for managing and collaborating on projects.
Basecamp is an example of a new wave of Internet applications that promote collaboration through effective interface design, leveraging cost effective online digital storage space and the functionality broadband networks are able to deliver.
Basecamp serves as an excellent example of a Web 2.0 application.
Web 2.0
According to Wikipedia’s definition (copied directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0)
Web 2.0 is a term popularized by O'Reilly Media and MediaLive International as the name for a series of Web development conferences that started in October 2004. This term has since become what some people see as a second phase of architecture and application development for the World Wide Web
As used by its proponents, the phrase "Web 2.0" refers to one or more of the following:
-The transition of websites from isolated information silos to sources of content and functionality, thus becoming a computing platform serving web applications to end users.
-A social phenomenon referring to an approach to creating and distributing Web content itself, characterized by open communication, de-centralization of authority, freedom to share and re-use, and "the market as a conversation".
-A more organized and categorized type of content, with a far more developed deep-linking web architecture.
-A shift in the economic value of the web, possibly surpassing the dot com boom of the late 1990s.
-A marketing term to differentiate new web businesses from those of the dot com boom, which, due to the bust, now seem discredited
-The resurgence of excitement around the possibilities of innovative web applications and service that gained a lot of momentum around mid 2005.
Basecamp is an excellent example of a Web 2.0 application as it is a website that is more like a computer application then a static source of information. It facilitates collaboration and the sharing of information and is created by a next generation web company called 37signals.
Basecamp Functionality
Basecamp’s main pieces of functionality consist of messages, milestones, to-do lists and write boards.
MESSAGES
Messages are the foundation of Basecamp. Messages can be text based, contain files and link to specific websites.
Multiple comments can be added to each message. This functionality allows for threads of conversation around topics and/or files.
Messages can also be directed to an entire project team or directly emailed to select members of a team.
Messages appear in reverse chronological order so the latest information is always at the top of the screen.
MILESTONES
Basecamp lets you track important project milestones and note who is responsible for each one. Basecamp automatically categorizes your milestones into late (shown in red), upcoming (shown in yellow) or completed (shown in green) milestones. You can add new milestones one at a time, or up to 10 at a time.
TO-DO LISTS
Basecamp allows you to create a detailed and hierarchical categorization of activities that need to be accomplished on your project. Each To-Do list can contain up to a 1000 items that can be assigned to members of your project team and tracked accordingly.
WRITEBOARDS
Writeboards are sharable, web-based text documents that let you save every edit, roll back to any version, and easily compare changes. Writeboards allow you to work collaboratively on text documents and you can compare different versions of a document, be automatically notified of changes and have your text hosted in one location.
Drawbacks to Basecamp include:
-Requiring members of your project team to learn how to use a web based utility and track a username and password.
-Requiring members of your project team to modify their existing workflow processes.
-Requiring a minimum level of technical ability for all team members.
-The to-do lists are only limited to a two-tiered hierarchy.
-The milestone feature allows for input of one deadline at a time.
Who developed Basecamp?
A 5-person company which was founded in Chicago in 1999 called 37signals designed Basecamp. In his article in salon.com, Farhad Manjoo does a wonderful job of describing how 37signals evolved and Basecamp came to being.
"The story of how 37 Signals morphed from a Web design firm that built sites for businesses into a Web software company that builds applications for regular people is reminiscent of the Native American legend about Indian tribes who found a use for every part of the slain buffalo." (Manjoo)
"We have this big thing about embracing constraints," says Jason Fried, the company's founder. "When you have constraints -- less time, less money -- people care about every dollar they spend. Customers ask us, 'How does Basecamp compare with other project-management tools?' We say it does less. Our products do less, and that's why they're successful. People don't want bloated products, and constraints force us to keep our products small, and to keep them valuable." (Manjoo)
REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2005/08/10/37signals/print.html
http://www.basecamphq.com/
Basecamp
http://www.basecamphq.com/
AEC 1100: OUTLINE OF ADULT EDUCATION
Mark Greenspan
What is Basecamp?
Basecamp is a simple-to-use web-based tool for managing and collaborating on projects.
Basecamp is an example of a new wave of Internet applications that promote collaboration through effective interface design, leveraging cost effective online digital storage space and the functionality broadband networks are able to deliver.
Basecamp serves as an excellent example of a Web 2.0 application.
Web 2.0
According to Wikipedia’s definition (copied directly from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0)
Web 2.0 is a term popularized by O'Reilly Media and MediaLive International as the name for a series of Web development conferences that started in October 2004. This term has since become what some people see as a second phase of architecture and application development for the World Wide Web
As used by its proponents, the phrase "Web 2.0" refers to one or more of the following:
-The transition of websites from isolated information silos to sources of content and functionality, thus becoming a computing platform serving web applications to end users.
-A social phenomenon referring to an approach to creating and distributing Web content itself, characterized by open communication, de-centralization of authority, freedom to share and re-use, and "the market as a conversation".
-A more organized and categorized type of content, with a far more developed deep-linking web architecture.
-A shift in the economic value of the web, possibly surpassing the dot com boom of the late 1990s.
-A marketing term to differentiate new web businesses from those of the dot com boom, which, due to the bust, now seem discredited
-The resurgence of excitement around the possibilities of innovative web applications and service that gained a lot of momentum around mid 2005.
Basecamp is an excellent example of a Web 2.0 application as it is a website that is more like a computer application then a static source of information. It facilitates collaboration and the sharing of information and is created by a next generation web company called 37signals.
Basecamp Functionality
Basecamp’s main pieces of functionality consist of messages, milestones, to-do lists and write boards.
MESSAGES
Messages are the foundation of Basecamp. Messages can be text based, contain files and link to specific websites.
Multiple comments can be added to each message. This functionality allows for threads of conversation around topics and/or files.
Messages can also be directed to an entire project team or directly emailed to select members of a team.
Messages appear in reverse chronological order so the latest information is always at the top of the screen.
MILESTONES
Basecamp lets you track important project milestones and note who is responsible for each one. Basecamp automatically categorizes your milestones into late (shown in red), upcoming (shown in yellow) or completed (shown in green) milestones. You can add new milestones one at a time, or up to 10 at a time.
TO-DO LISTS
Basecamp allows you to create a detailed and hierarchical categorization of activities that need to be accomplished on your project. Each To-Do list can contain up to a 1000 items that can be assigned to members of your project team and tracked accordingly.
WRITEBOARDS
Writeboards are sharable, web-based text documents that let you save every edit, roll back to any version, and easily compare changes. Writeboards allow you to work collaboratively on text documents and you can compare different versions of a document, be automatically notified of changes and have your text hosted in one location.
Drawbacks to Basecamp include:
-Requiring members of your project team to learn how to use a web based utility and track a username and password.
-Requiring members of your project team to modify their existing workflow processes.
-Requiring a minimum level of technical ability for all team members.
-The to-do lists are only limited to a two-tiered hierarchy.
-The milestone feature allows for input of one deadline at a time.
Who developed Basecamp?
A 5-person company which was founded in Chicago in 1999 called 37signals designed Basecamp. In his article in salon.com, Farhad Manjoo does a wonderful job of describing how 37signals evolved and Basecamp came to being.
"The story of how 37 Signals morphed from a Web design firm that built sites for businesses into a Web software company that builds applications for regular people is reminiscent of the Native American legend about Indian tribes who found a use for every part of the slain buffalo." (Manjoo)
"We have this big thing about embracing constraints," says Jason Fried, the company's founder. "When you have constraints -- less time, less money -- people care about every dollar they spend. Customers ask us, 'How does Basecamp compare with other project-management tools?' We say it does less. Our products do less, and that's why they're successful. People don't want bloated products, and constraints force us to keep our products small, and to keep them valuable." (Manjoo)
REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2005/08/10/37signals/print.html
http://www.basecamphq.com/
posted by mark at 5:25 PM
1 Comments:
Projjex.com is a great new site that does a fabulous job of project management. It's completely browser-based, really easy to use, and has a free version. Cool videos too - I love it!
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