Great Western Coffee Shop

I am testing an online messaging system - if you're logged in, you may see a live chat box at the bottom right of your screen.   Please feel free to chat.

This is an EXPERIMENT and please don't expect it to be permanent!

I've had a go but not sure if it worked..... ???

Others have to be in there with you.

I think you can also have private chats with those you invite to join you too, otherwise its just like a pub conversation where anyone wothin earshot (or present in the chat session) can and do join in

It's an answering system for a company not a chat room ... haven't seen either of the tow of you who have posted, but did have another members stop by and say "hello".   Without  a 24 x 7 presence it's unlikely to be staying of blog but, yes, help me test it. 

I have just switched to "Away" .... will be on again to do further testing later.

Having a facility like this would be a very serious volunteer resource requirement ... so I'm handing it with care. NOT public visible (members have to be logged in to see it) ... will think about what I have learned over the next 48 hours

Thought I'd had an unauthorised widget added to my phone.

No thanks.

This is an experiment.  Please don't expect it to be permanent.  I am testing something out for a client, and the forum gives me somewhere to learn / do so for a few hours.  Rare opportunity to get something back for the free space I give the forum on our server.

Thought I'd been hacked!

I just sent a test message on it..

For readers who are NOT logged in, the "chat system" we are talking about here is only visible to registered and logged in users.  There's a longer explanation posted ((here)) (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=18479.0) in our regular poster's area as to the reasons this suddenly appeared rather than having it well trailed and consulted on in advance.   My apologies to members who worried that they had a security issue with their devices because of the sudden appearance of an extra element on the pages we serve to them.

Confirming yesterday's comment ... I would be gobsmacked if this were to remain here permanently in this form. The icon is intrusive, and the extra work generated for the person / team answering could be significant to put it mildly.

Worked well for me thank you.  Not sure if/how I'd use it as asking a new question on the forum will invariably receive many answers in due course.
Your efforts are appreciated at all times.

Thanks,
Richard

I'm now getting a chat box being offered, which needs manually minimising to a 'speak to us' icon. I'd suggest the icon is good (although a tad large), but don't have the chat box displayed until the icon is clicked on.

Agree with this.  The chat box is very prominent, but perhaps that could be a good thing for the site it could be used on.
However, if you don't want it, it spring up within a minute or so then you have to minimise it.
For me would be to keep minimised unless wanted or used.

I have added a "chat on / off" selector in the top menu bar so that you can keep it switched off until you want / need the facility (if it stays).

It might turn out to be a useful way for people who are having trouble signing in to get in touch with us - so it's there and on by default, but switchable off whether or not you're logged in.