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Raymond Reid is based at Staffordshire University and is working on the SUN & SPEAC project…

What is SUN & SPEAC?

They are the staff social network (SUN) and the student pilot of a social network (SPEAC) based on Elgg, for the Law School.  There will be able 250 students and staff using it.  Its like Facebook, but more widget based, so you have the ability to build your own widgets, and the user can move and use whatever widgets they want.  They also have access to core services such as blogging, repository and RSS news feeds, links to Twitter, bookmarks like del.ici.ous.  Basically, it has all the best bits of Web 2.0 put together, without adverts, on the university’s own services.

What problems/issues is SUN & SPEAC tackling?

We have just released a new version, so there are obviously some bugs to fix!

How would you like other software developers and users to get involved in what you are doing?

I wouldn’t mind eventually integrating things like the library system or Blackboard into it, getting everything you need in one place, so help with that would be great.

What developer communities have you been involved in and if none, why not?

I have been involved in the users group for Elgg on Googlegroups, answering and asking questions.  I would definitely be interested in the more physical communities, like at this event, to meet other people who are tackling the same issues.

What is the coolest or most exciting thing in educational software development?

I have my head so much in Elgg at the moment, so it is currently my life!  So using social tools in an educational setting is really useful.

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