instant chat within REACH and notification alert

[LucieGueuning]

• It would be good to have a separate space for chats apart from the notifications, so questions and comments can be posted and seen by everyone. (for future versions) • We need some kind of alert for a new notification or new chat message. I think that was already planned, right?

Suggestion from Natasha (Sun 18/03/2018 17:10)

[matthewberryman]

I'm just wondering if the first one is best handled by something else (Sharepoint, MS Teams, Skype chat )? 2nd bullet point for notifications is perhaps best dealt with via a more general form of https://github.com/MSFREACH/msf-reach/issues/297

[LucieGueuning]

Can we integrate a very easy plugin (OSS) for chat already well built and working?

[matthewberryman]

You can but then:

• We would have to assist in maintaining it (especially around security), possibly extra costs in maintaining a separate database for it.
• Users face system overload, having different chats in different platforms (I know you guys are already using Skype for business), and then the information becomes fragmented across platforms.
• MS products are going to integrate better with your AD setup.

[LucieGueuning]

• it is already going all over the place. The idea with REACH is to centralise discussion regarding monitoring emergency and assessment into one secure platform, integrating a live chat discussion if instant messaging are needed.

[LucieGueuning]

as per contract

[matthewberryman]

@LucieGueuning that doesn't say we have to build an IM platform within REACH, just that REACH needs to integrate crowd sourced information from IM, which it already does - users can already share reporting links for crowdsourced information with other users via Skype for business, or via whatsapp, etc. We could integrate in Skype for Business but that's a major effort (out of scope for this phase of work) and doesn't solve the organisational issue of different groups of people using different platforms for instant messaging.

[matthewberryman]

As something super lightweight but limited, it's possible to add a skype button in the bottom right that pre-opens a chat to a specific user (e.g. Natasha) - in that regard it's very limited as you can't have a group chat, although then that specific user could set something up separately.

[matthewberryman]

@LucieGueuning in a few minutes from now you can try this on our dev/test environments

[matthewberryman]

(landing page only for now but if that works I can extend to events page)

[LucieGueuning]

great! Looking forward to it! 💃

[matthewberryman]

@LucieGueuning what do you think of this? There are unfortunately limited options, either

1. This lightweight approach to open with a particular operator (could depend on region in 2b if we expand outside SE Asia).
2. A massive integration to embed Skype in (at least a month's worth of full time work - maybe something for 2 b?)

[matthewberryman]

^^ re point 2. I would say only do this once other polish is added and also we have a clear idea of other work for 2b (especially AI training, and other stuff to flow from outreach).

[LucieGueuning]

ok, well noted.

[matthewberryman]

preference for notifications by email noted

[matthewberryman]

"operator need to be able to not send email after updates. after edition, pop up asking send email to subscription: yes or not"