Help

Frequently asked questions

The NM-X is not like other social networking websites, so it's likely that you'll have questions.

Please do ask questions and we'll answer them
here


What is NM-X?

NM-X is the New Media eXchange. It's an open source social networking tool for connecting skilled and interesting people via their projects, organisations and events. You can read more about it on the 'about' page.


What is an exchange?

An exchange can be a funding opportunity, a job offered, a collaboration waiting to happen - anything. If you have an idea that you want to run by some of the people, projects, organisations or events in NM-X - create an exchange and connect them to it

When you do that they'll all get an email with a link to the exchange page where they can comment, get in touch and respond. We have big plans for making exchanges more useful collaboration tools in the future.


How do I register with NM-X?

When you first visit the site, please register so that you can explore the network and get in touch with it's people, projects, organisations and exchages


How do I register to attend events?

As a member, you can also register for the events run by NM-X, a chance to meet NM-X members and get connected to the NM-X network.

When you look at 'upcoming events' on the site - you'll notice that some of them have the option to allow you to register for them. These are events managed by NM-X members. If you register, they will get an RSVP from you, and will then be in touch by email to confirm your attendance.


What are those little icons on the map?

As you're browsing through the NM-X, you'll notice that there's a network map of little busy people, taxis, buses, and sheds emerging behind the information you're viewing. Just to clarify:

  • Projects are represented by London transport: Taxis (small projects) and buses (big projects).
  • Organisations are buildings: Sheds (small orgs), and office blocks (big orgs).
  • Events look a bit like a cinema (big events) or a modest auditorium (small events).
  • People are obviously very busy talking on the phone, thinking or cycling around town!

You get the idea.


Uploading media and Magic Tags

Everything in NM-X has a magic tag (in the pink box on the right) - including you!

If you want your youtube videos, flickr images, del.icio.us links or
technorati-tagged blog posts to appear next to your NM-X entry, use that magic
tag to 'tag' your media, and it will appear - magically!

If you are organising an event, or running a project
that is listed on NM-X - publicise it's magic tag! this will allow other people
to help you document it in a distributed manner!


Inviting People to NM-X

You can invite new people to NM-X by adding their email address when you're adding entries about new people, events, projects or organisations to the system. They will automatically be sent an email inviting them to come and 'claim' that entry and become a member of the NM-X network


Claiming things

Because all members of the NM-X network can add information about anything, we have a way to 'claim' management of a piece of information.

For example - I add information about your project, and nominate you as the primary contact. You get an email inviting you to sign up and 'claim' it and update it as you see fit

If I use the wrong email address, or you want to edit something about a project for which you are not the 'primary contact' - you can still claim it. The person who does manage that information will get an email asking them to 'release' it to you.

This 'claiming' system allows everyone to manage their own information in a decentralized way - rather than any one person having to maintain every piece of information about absolutely everything.

Creating or claiming a profile

To complete your registration process at NM-X you have to create or claim a 'profile' - what other people see about you on the site.

If you were invited to NM-X by someone that already made you a profile, you can simply 'claim' this profile to start using the site and building it up.


Connecting things

Every project, person, organisation and event in the NM-X has a blue 'connect' box on the left hand side. When you want to connect two related things, simply type the name of the person, organisation, project or event into the 'connect' box, select it and click 'connect'.

If it doesn't appear in the auto-complete list, it's not in the NM-X yet - you'll have to 'add a new thing'.


Adding new things

To add new people, organisations, projects and events to the system, they'll have to be connected to something. This is so that we don't have disconnected things floating around the NM-X network.

Add a new thing

So to add new event, for example, find a person, project, organisation or event to which it is connected, then using the 'connect' box on the right (see above), click on the appropriate link. Once you've finished adding the event, the two will be connected. You can then use the 'connect' box make more connections.


Adding exchanges

To add new exchanges to the site, first register or
log in, then go to the exchange page and click on 'Start an eXchange'.


Adding News

If you are a site editor, you'll have a special menu in the left hand (blue) column on your screen. Click the 'create content' button on there, and then click the 'Story' button to add a news item to the NM-X Blog.


Event management

If you are an event manager, when you create a new event - you should see the option to 'Enable attendance management' on your new event page.

Users who register for your event will be added to the attendee list - which you can view as a spreadsheet at any time by clicking the 'export attendee list' link on your event page.

When a user registers for your event, they'll get an email confirming that their registration has been received. Several days prior to the event, they will get an email requesting that the reconfirm their attendance - at which stage they will become 'confirmed' attendees.

If you are organising an event for 100 people, we recommend that you over-book slightly, as there are always some drop-outs at the reconfirmation stage (about 30%-50% in our experience).

The event management system is still somewhat experimental, so if you are having problems, please contact us immediately and we'll do our best to sort it out.

NB: When advertising your event, do make sure to let people know about it's 'Magic Tag', so that they know how to tag their social media streams after the event.


Credits

NM-X is a project by London Westside, funded by the London Development Agency.


The NM-X was developed by Peter Brownell of Code Positive, designed by Liz Turner and managed by Saul Albert of The People Speak.