try to get the users to go to this section before they submit thier question. Dronen**However, this usually doesn't work. lankes**Who determines if the question is a repeat...and how? Dronen**We have even had to make the online form more difficult to get to to try and avoidthis. Dronen**The volcanologist determines if it is a repeat, usually just from memory. It is prettyamazing Dronen**how they can remember all the questions they have already answered. Dronen**If it is a repeat, the volcanologist will usually say so, and then give the web addressto where they can go for the answer. lankes**Are there any other ways you gather information on users and user trends (likedemographics) other than the incoming questions? Dronen**Not on a continuous basis. However, there have been times where we have been able to dothis: for example Dronen**we had recently a VolcanoQuiz, where users who scored a perfect quiz won prizes. Forthis, we asked for more information, such as asddress, age, that type of thing. lankes**anything else on users? Dronen**I don't think so. lankes**How about gathering information or determining trends in other Internet services...doyou look at other sites when building or maintaining your own? Dronen**Yes, there are many reasons we would look at other sites. lankes**such as? Dronen**One is that we keep up with current technology, we try to see what others are doing andthen use this as a basis for our site. Dronen**As an example, we do not want to use technologies on our pages which only a smallpercent of the users will be able to see. Dronen**...or use.one example of this is chat servers. Dronen**Java chat servers are great, but many, especially in the educational fields, do nothave equipment that can handle it well. lankes**DO you determine this from looking at other services or looking at your users? Dronen**Another example is streaming audio and video. Dronen**Its a little of both. Since we know where most of our users co...
