Wish List

[CADTutor]

I'm currently putting together a proposal for the future development of CADTutor that I can present to potential sponsors of the site. I have plenty of ideas myself but I thought it would be good to throw it open to you guys.

What would you like to see in the future. I don't just mean "can we have a tutorial on UCS please". I mean, should CADTutor become an e-zine with regular monthly articles, would foreign language versions be good? Should tutorials be commissioned from other technical authors? Should other software apps. be covered in more detail... etc. etc.

Please let me know what you think.

[superjari]

I think foreign languages wouldn't be necessary, I think most people understand English by now and with the images it explains itself.

If other people have good tutorials (or tips, like a lot of guys on this forum), why not put them on CADtutor (with their permission ofcourse), maybe it is a good idea to have a forum-category here where people can post their (small) tutorials or tips...

[f700es]

I think foreign languages wouldn't be necessary, I think most people understand English by now and with the images it explains itself.

If other people have good tutorials (or tips, like a lot of guys on this forum), why not put them on CADtutor (with their permission ofcourse), maybe it is a good idea to have a forum-category here where people can post their (small) tutorials or tips...

That would be cool.

F7

[fuccaro]

I am using 3D Studio from some time, but I still feel that I have more to learn. How about a tutorial about materials, starting from... let’s say tomorrow
- In English it’s OK-

[superjari]

I'm also using 3D studio (VIZ), but i think the best way is just trying, when you know the basic features, just try different things out...

[CADTutor]

Also, there are already some pretty good 3DS tutorials out there, see

http://www.stclairc.on.ca/people/pages/fperissi/arc404/

and

http://www.vizdepot.com/maintut.html

What I am looking for are the big ideas. Not just more tutorials but "How will CADTutor look in 5 years time?"

Will it still be free? (I hope it will). Will it be more dynamic? A webzine with constantly updated content? Will other technical authors be involved? Will we be running distance learning courses? Is it likely to become the portal of choice for CAD users?

These are the kind of ideas and comments I need right now. I have to convince sponsors that this web site is going places, that it is a valuable resource. That it's really important for students and users in developing countries. That it's recognised by professionals as being a reputable source of information.

[superjari]

I you want to go big, I think community is the word nowadays, interactive content attracts lots of viewers/users. So if you have idea's on how to create a community that is interesting for a wide vaiety of people it will also be attractive to sponsors.

[fuccaro]

Cadtutor
Open a web page on a free server –netfirms?- and make public the password. Everybody could upload something worked after she/he received help from cadtutor forum

[vizwhiz]

hi There

David and All

the idea of letting other contribute Tutorials is a good one
(subliminal hint 1 - i have already offered somewhat to contriubte to this)

a monthly ezine would be way cool

this is a good way for Sponsors to get their word out (marketing value)
you got a real good base of Viewers, world-wide participation that is cool

distance learning is the future the future is NOW, yes

can you still have a FREE CADTutornet and also have a PAID subscription area at the same time? for those who chose to add extra value to their participation

this is where the distance learning could possibly fall into, a paid area by subscription

how about a Best of CADTutor, that could be either downloaded for free or put onto a cd if someone wants to buy it (generate some voluntary income for your excellent website)

how about a Merchandise e-store with the CADTutor logo on such items as coffee mugs T-shirts, sweaters (for those of you who live in not so hot areas of the world)

what about a Image upload area? to look at the 3d works in progress?

AutoLISP could be a bigger area (subliminal hint 2 i could help in this)
i unfortunately dont know VBA or Visual Lisp at all

have some kind of Event every 3 months or so and see what the response is. what kind of Event? (dont know)

Revit is coming online for Autodesk, this might be a thing to further develop, ADT and Revit may be the 3d modelers/2d cd plan softwares of the future for Autocad production work

unfortunately i dont have any Revit or ADT experience 0
so this would be of major interest to me and i am sure this could be extremely valuable to others, when companies start asking for people to know these softwares

you are doing an excellent job, David, keep it going
by the way i put a link to your CATutorforum.net forum on my homepage

Thanks

vizwhiz

[Psmeg]

Hi David,

Something that I've been thinking about for the last few days is a CD Magazine for WZ2K that is by monthly subscription (£4:99+ p&p for example), that has non-website based materials in PDF and video format.

That way you can give individuals who like the 'static' tutorial the ability to enhance the experience by hearing and seeing the tutorial being carried out on their screen. You could then offer additional 'paper based' (PDF) versions so that people can print them out and work in their own time at their own pace.

If you want any more info as to what type of software, etc. is involved you know whow to get hold of me. :D

Regards

Psmeg

[stephen]

i would love it if was a distance learning part to the site, the tutorials are excellent but i am finding it hard to find a cad course to fit around my schedule.

i am part of a car club (not the same thing but has given me a few ideas) there could be a mag, prob on cd or e-zine as im sure we're all pc literate on here.

paying a yearly subscription, would always expect more than an e-zine but up to you's guys what.

could also have an appointments section once the site gets bigger, could probably atrract a few people.

didnt really have time to think about this, so will get back with more ideas later :)

[Gwenojenn]

I think that one thing that would attract more people and bring the site as the reference, would be a free library of materials, blocks 2D & 3D ...

This has allready begun on CADtutor - the image bank.
The good thing would be to create an interactive library, for each of the software present on the site, and give them all the adds people would look for to improve their materials.

For CAD for example you would have a library of 2D blocks (trees, plan, people, furnitures) you could limit yourself to 2 or 3 disciplines, so you`re looking only at specific blocks ... architecture / landscape architecture ...

The other thing as people said would be to develop a very simple, monthly CADtutor `newspaper`... very well designed on the graphic point of view, including maybe sometimes a cd ... this could be on sell on the CADtutor website.

But one thing really would be to keep as long as possible the CADtutor free (and free of adds) ... that`s giving it a real boost i think ;)
not so easy to see the next step ....

Gwenojenn