Live Chat can be Introdcued here ?

Question

Like Facebook Orkut if we have a chat facility in our forum it will be very much easier to provide solutions directly by interacting with each other. Knowledge sharing could be much more easier. Any idea to implement the chat feature in future ?

Ibrahim Ersoy · Answer

I have a suggestion. If an user need instantimmediate assistant like: * Our SQL Server is down.What to do? or * Our system is hacked.What must we do? kinda instant-need of questions can be asked through a Live Chat.It might be useful.

Suthish Nair · Answer

Why we need a Live Chat? Then what will be the importance of Forums Blogs News Latest Resources etc. Why we need all these sections. To an extened this will kill all other sections. If its only about answering fast replys to forums so we can have a quick response link on forums. Idea given Mahesh is good.

Manikavelu Velayutham · Answer

Absolutely thats an good idea.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Yes Mahesh that could work and is certainly different from the other ideas. As far as chatting directly it does not need to be done through the web site's server.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

What I had in mind was we have a live chart with top authors and members and each week we can feature an author MVP or some top guy. We can also choose a topic on that day and members can ask their questions. Once the session is done it will be available in archives. That is what I feel is valuable. I am not sure about direct Chat by members exchanging their code or chit chatting. That would also add lot of resources and loads on the server. Keep bringing ideas ..

Sam Hobbs · Answer

In addition to what Santhosh says another problem is that a live chat is likely to require more time from the people trying to help; people seeking help are less likely to prepare their question and such. I sometimes think it would be interesting to do a video chat just to chat and such but I am reluctant to spend my time trying to help in that manner. I did try helping another member of this web site and he kept me on the phone for hours (literally hours) while he worked. I was unable to follow what he was doing and he usually would not listen to what I said so it was a waste of time. Our phone bill for the month was going to be a few hundred dollars but we called the phone company and made arrangements. I now don't answer the phone when the guy calls. The critical question is who wants to do this; the person that wants to help or the person trying to get help. I think that people trying to get help is much more likely to want to do a chat to get help. The people trying to help will likely learn to avoid it and won't enjoy the experience if they are put in a situation where they have to say no. I know from experience that there are people that just won't take a hint.

Manikavelu Velayutham · Answer

It could be like starting a chat in the name of your problem entire conversation can be listed out like in forum so that everyone can view the solution for the same. It will be more or like forum only. only thing is immediate resposne will be there in live chat.

Santhosh N · Answer

If you are planning for live chat for technical questions and answers How it would help the forum and also in turn to the site visitors as there wont be any track of the discussions to arrive at solutions which help many??

Mahesh Chand · Answer

Yes Mani this is in the list. Once we are done with critical bugs we will start working on the new features. Thank you again for the reminder! :)