In 1999 the internet landscape was very different from what it is today. In the absence of free services for things like weblog hosting, photo hosting, group collaboration, etc. Google had started the year before and was at the time merely a search engine (one the blew yahoo and altavista out of the water, but still a search engine).

It was in this environment that I envisioned a website to try to keep this community of people (my friends and theirs) in contact despite physical separation as people moved away to colleges and other towns. I happened upon the site design that I made in 1999 (before implementing it a couple years later) and thought I'd put it up here. At the time there was no cementhorizon and the provisional name was "Tree Group" because that was the name of the group of people in high school (we all hung out at lunch around a specific tree). These are just notes laying out ideas for what would go on the site and how it would work.

Tree Group Conceptual Layout

POP and Web Based Access to Email Addresses

• First Letter of first name followed by first 7 letters of
  last name
• jdoe@domain.com jfraneth@domain.com
  dsmall@domain.com gwood@domain.com eanderso@domain.com
• 10 additional addresses available per person anything@domain.com
  gene_wood@domain.com
  djsmall@domain.com
  jfranethornbeck@domain.com
  eew@domain.com

Hosted Web pages

• www.domain.com/username or sitename.domain.com (with
  FrontPage server Extensions)

Monthly Newsletter

• Note from me
• updated What's Up pages
• upcoming Calendar Events
• For Sale Listings
• Movie/Book Reviews

Databases

• User Database (#201)

  • username [INDEX VALUE]
  • password

• Group Database (#202)

  • Global Group number [INDEX VALUE]
  • Owner's Username
  •  
  • 0 : unmasked [set owner to nobody]
  • 1 : masked (from everyone) [set owner to nobody]
  • 2 : group mask (group 1001)
  • 3 : group mask (group 1002)
  • etc.
  • group 1 is the first group saved by any user
  • Groups from group mask consist
    of list of unchecked (masked) usernames
  • Groups from the photo gallery consist of the
    members in the photo
  • groups 100-1000 are single user groups (e.g.
    group101 : gwood / group 102 : dsmall / etc)
  • Multi-User groups begin at 1000

• Contact Database (#203)

  • Each Field has and associated mask value from Group
    Database (#202)
  • UserName [INDEX VALUE]
  • First Name
  • Middle Name
  • Last Name
  • Home Phone
  • Parents Phone
  • Home Address
  • Parents Address
  • Work Phone
  • Work Address
  • Secondary Phone Number
  • Tertiary Phone Number
  • Primary email address
  • Secondary Email address
  • Tertiary Email Address
  • ICQ Number
  • AOL IM ID
  • Yahoo Messnenger/Pager ID
  • Pager Number
  • Cell Number
  • Other Wireless Number
  • College Name
  • Homepage
  • What's Up Text
  • PGP Key
  • Default Prefered Address Book Format
    (Netscape/WAB/Outlook)
  • Default number of Thumbnails per Page

• Event Database (#204)

  • Event ID# [INDEX VALUE]
  • Event Title
  • Begin Date
  • Begin Time
  • End Date
  • End Time
  • Owner UserName
  • Description
  • Post it in the Newsletter? [True/False]
  • Mask Value (Who's Invited)

• Photo Gallery Database (#205)

  • Photo ID# [INDEX VALUE]
  • Owner username
  • Date
  • Date Accuracy [True/False] (True : Accurate /
    False : Guess)
  • People in the picutre as a Group ID# from Group
    Database #202
  • Total Number of Ratings Votes
  • Total Value of all Ratings Votes

• Discussion Group Database (#206)

Web Site Universal Pages

Event Description Page (#100)

• Event Title
• Begin Date/Time
• End Date/Time
• All Events (Listed By Title and Linked to Each Event
  Description Page (#100)) on the same day as Begin and
  End
• Event Owner (Linked to mailto:)
• Event Description
•  

Create Virtual Group (#101)

• Every Member Listed In a List
• CheckBox Next to each Name
• For mask group default is everyone
  checked (checked means you can see the information and
  are considred unmasked)
• For derivitave of mask group photo
  gallery member search : default is everyone is unchecked
  (checked means that you will have to be in the picture to
  return a hit)
• Save Virtual Group [give it a name and it's saved,
  associated with the user that created it]
• Clearly stated privacy information so that the user knows
  that only he/she will see/have access to the saved mask
  group
•  

Date Description Page (#102)

• List of all events Beginning or ending on the date [each
  one linked to Event Description Page (#100)]
• This day in history link
•  

User Page (#103)

• Homepage
• Contact Info [phone,email,icq,etc]
• link to search photo gallery for user as member
• link to search photo gallery for user as owner
• link to mailto: for all email addresses + wireless pager
  email address + ICQ pager email
• current picture
• what's up text
• user owned Schedule Events
• ICQ online/offline graphic

Schedule : Events

• Event - Post in the Newsletter?
• User events - Variable
• Group events - Variable
• This Day In History - No
• Concerts - No
• Holidays - No
• Solctices - Yes
• Sunset / Sunrise - No
• Art Exhibits - No
•  

Mission Statement (#104)

• To provide a means by which everyone can have the ability
  to stay in contact with those that they wish to at the
  same time limiting contact to those they wish to avoid
• To enrich the members lives by providing event
  information for gatherings, concert information, birthday
  notification etc.
• To provide easy access to information concerning means of
  staying in contact, including long distance companies,
  calling cards, cheap flights/transportation, etc.
• To provide a location to call home on the web by
  providing free web site space, and free email accounts
• To provide access to pertinent information concerning
  members protection of thier privacy and anonymity on the
  internet through introduction to personal encryption
  technology, anonymous remailers, and masking firewalls.
• To provide a clearinghouse for group related pictures so
  that everyone can have access to a giant photo album

Meta Tag Mirror Index Pages (#105)

• Multiple ancillary main pages containing Meta Tags filled
  with the members names that auto refresh/redirects to the
  main page
• Members Names formated as John Doe / Doe, John / J. Doe /
  John Middle Doe / J. M. Doe / etc.

Display Page (#106)

• Image
• Rating 1..10 radio buttons
• Email Owner link
• Members
• Date of Picture + Date accuracy
• Event Name [linked to Event Description Page if
  the event exists

Web Site Public Hierarchy

• Mission Statement (#104)
• Meta Tag Mirror Index Pages (#105)
• Public News [pertaining to web site business]
• List of hosted web pages
• Request for admission form (voted on by current members)
• Link to Members Area
• Hosted Web pages [www.domain.com/username or
  sitename.domain.com] (with FrontPage server Extensions)
  • How to build a homepage, links to help and
    software
  •  
• Portal Search Fields [yahoo, excite, lycos]
• Keeping In Contact
  • Long Distance Carrier's Cost comparison, how to
    save money
  • Calling Card cost comparison
  • Airling Ticket advise, how to book, special price
    email listservs
  • Amtrak costs
  • Bus costs
• Description How to set the Tree Group Web Site as your
  browsers default HomePage
• Public Key Encryption Information
  • What it is
  • Why to use it
  • How to use it
• ICQ Information
  • What it is
  • Where to get it
• For Sale Listings (classifieds for crap)
• Incest Court ?????? (Members Area?)
• Spy Stories
• Movie Reviews
• Book Reviews
• Sunset / Sunrise Data
• Cool Links Page
  • Yahoo Cool Picks
  • Slashdot sites
  • Other Cool Listing compilations
  • Allmusic.com
  • IMDB.com
  • webmuseum
  • propoganda / mirrored in BMP format for windows
  •  
• Recipes
• Voting Questions

Web Site Members Area Hierarchy

1. User Database Personal Settings [default [mask/unmask/mask
   group] setting is unmask]
   • Email Address
     • Linked to mailto:name@domain.com
   • Primary Phone Number [mask/unmask/mask
     group]
   • Parents Phone Number [mask/unmask/mask
     group]
   • Primary Address [mask/unmask/mask group]
   • Parents Address [mask/unmask/mask group]
   • Current College Name
   • ICQ Number [mask/unmask/mask group]
     • Linked to ICQ Personal Communication
       Center
   • AOL Instant Messenger ID [mask/unmask/mask
     group]
   • Yahoo Pager/Messenger ID [mask/unmask/mask
     group]
   • Current Picture
     • Linked to Gallery Search on Self
   • Secondary Email Address
     • Linked to mailto:name2@domain.com
   • Pager Number [mask/unmask/mask group]
   • Pager Email Address [mask/unmask/mask
     group]
   • Cell Phone Number [mask/unmask/mask group]
   • Birthday [data placed in Shedule Database]
   • Schedule Page
     • Listing of upcoming events that you
       control [leaving school / returning to
       school / BBQ your setting up / your
       birthday / etc]
       • Each Event is linked to Event
         Description Page (#100)
     • 8 Fields for School Schedule
       • Drop Down Box [Go back to school
         / Leave School]
       • Date
     • Personal Events
       • Begin Date / Time
       • End Date / Time
       • Radio button description
         [Birthday, Anniversary, other
         (fill in field)]
     • Group Events
       • Begin Date / Time
       • End Date / Time
       • Description [BBQ, movie etc.]
       • Notify [No / Whole Group / Mask
         Group]
       • If [Whole Group] or [Mask
         Group] Then Notification
         Design (Directions, Time, What to
         bring, etc.)
       • If [Mask Group]
         Then Goto Create Virtual Group
         (#101) Check box selection of
         names
   • What's Up [Current wrap-up of what is going on in
     your life]
     • classes
     • signifiant others
     • religious epiphanies
     • piercings
     • current musical tastes
     • current plans for school, job, love, life
       etc.
     • Date of most recent update
   • PGP Key
   • Homepage [link to homepage]
   • Link to Audio file for addition to email program
     ["You've got mail", "I just sent
     you an email, Bizo"]
2. User Database View List
   • Default Category Display
   • Check Box selection of columns to display
   • Pull down menu of common display settings
     • everything [all fields]
     • phone numbers [fields with phone numbers
       in them]
     • snail mail [Physical Addresses]
     • internet pressence [email addresses,
       homepages, ICQ etc]
   • Title of each column linked to sort by catagory
   • Search for Text in Field/Fields
   • Listing [for Masked Entries Leave Blank]
     • Name [Linked to User Page (#103)]
     • Email Address [Linked to mailto:user@domain.com]
     • Phone Number
     • Address
     • Parents Phone Number
     • Parents Address
     • ICQ Number [linked to ICQ Personal
       Communication Page]
     • AOL IM ID
     • Yahoo Pager/Messenger ID
3. User Database Download Address Book
   • radio box / submit selection of format [Netscape
     1.x/Netscape 2.x/Outlook 95/WAB/etc.]
   • Link to form for requesting a new file format
4. Photo Gallery [Database FileName / PictureOwner /
   PictureMembers]
   • Top 10/25/50 Pictures based on Ratings from Display
     Page (#106)
   • Search by Members
     • And / Or
     • Check Box Member Selection (Derivitive of
       Create Virtual Group (#101) for mask
       group)
   • Thumbnails per Page [Number]
   • ThumbNail linked to Display Page (#106),
     Under thumnail is Source that is
     linked to the image file (for download) and the
     file size [eg Source 148kb]
   • Information On submission howto
     • Specs for scanning images (resolution,
       color, etc)
     • How to mail them to me to scan for you
5. Web Based Email Send / Recieve [username@domain.com]
6. Discussion Group
   • Read Discussion Group
   • Create New Thread
   • Post to Discussion Group
7. Current Calendar
   • Generate Calendar from Database
   • Current Months Calendar
     • Layout in Basic Calendar fasion 7X4
     • Number 1-30 in each box links to Date
       Description Page (#102) containing
       verbose listing of that dates events
     • Each Day Containing Title of Event Linked
       to Schedule Event Description Page
       (#100)
     • For Days containing more that displayable
       [more...] which links to Date
       Description Page (#102)
     • Each Event contains Begin Date/Time and
       End Date/Time ,
       • If Event has Different Begin/End
         Dates it is displayed twice, once
         on the beginning date and once on
         the end
       • If Event has same Begin and End,
         it is listed once on that Date
       • Specific Begin End Date Time is
         contained on the Event
         Description Page (#100)
8. Security Description and Privacy Information
9.  

Written By Eugene Wood
Date : Aug 9 1999