The following is an outline of a manual for participant interactive message system that was prepared by Nadia McLaren of the Union of International Associations, based on her experience working with Da Zi Bao and also drawing on Tony Judge's experience with earlier forms of participant interactive message system. The manual is in the process of being revised and updated in conjunction with a People's Voices project for the Habitat II conference in Istanbul in June 1996.

INTRODUCTION

DESIGN AND PREPARATION

D1 Message forms (design, etc)
D2 Messaging image and participant involvement
D3 Participant guidelines / briefing sheets

G1 Orientation to Da Zi Bao
G2 Using the "Da Zi Bao" process
G3 Some guidelines for messages
D4 Costs and cost cutting

SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION

S1 Visibility / attitudes
S2 Organizer involvement
S3 Evaluation and performance indicators
S4 Handling backlog and overtime
S5 Bottlenecks
S6 Turnaround/frequency
S7 Preparation, setup and testing

COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION

C1 Distribution
C2 Database products
C3 Message collection
C4 Sale/free
C5 In-session messaging

EDITING AND PRODUCTION

E1 Abuse/misuse of messaging
E2 Identity
E3 Editorial pump priming
E4 Editorial committee
E5 Multiple languages and translation
E6 Master copies / layout
E7 Coding
E8 Categories of message
E9 Numbering and keywording
E10 Priorities and pre-processing
E11 Editing
E12 Insights, maturing the process
E13 Mapping - synergy/complexity (intersectoral) axes - types of

INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT

I1 Paper
I2 Working space requirements
I3 Word processing software
I4 Varying standards (character sets, paper sizes, power
I5 Email
I6 Resource use and waste
I7 Message board / wall space / Horus Wall Display
I8 Database software
I9 Computer
I10 Printing
I11 Breakdown, crashes and backup
I12 Photocopier(s)
I13 Computer Networks
I14 Portable equipment
I15 Power supply
I16 Typewriters

PERSONNEL AND FUNCTIONS

P1 Shifts
P2 Roles
P3 Typist
P4 Staff qualifications and training
P5 Volunteers

CASE STUDIES

Written by Nadia McLaren, Union of International Associations, with revisions and HTML layout by Robert Pollard, Information Habitat: Where Information Lives.