Gadget Development Wanted

[Glenn Allen]

We're setting up a Ning-based site where people in Groups will provide feedback about certain events. This feedback will be given via another application that's already developed in Flash and Java. A forthcoming version of that application will probably need to be converted to work as an OpenSocial Gadget, but that's for later. Right now, we need some help, probably in OpenSocial, perhaps just in Ning.

First, a question:

Is it possible to poll Groups for current logins and pass either the number of logins and/or the login names/emails out of Ning and over to our application? If we can do this, then we can get continuously updated reads on the number of people who are logged into each of our Groups, which will then give us an accurate read on the numbers of people providing feedback.

So, if such data can be found either in Ning or via OpenSocial, then we're looking for a developer who would be interested in helping us do this, on a freelance basis.

Please email me and let me know if you think this is possible and, then, if you think it can be done either in Ning or in OpenSocial.

If this can be done, then we'd probably wish to work with you on the porting of our forthcoming version into OpenSocial where, frankly, it will become quite interesting indeed!

Thanks, in advance.

Glemm

[jevs]

Hi, Glemm,
You can check http://opensocialexa.com. Possible it is something you need. OpenSocial currently not providing sufficient security for this. It is possible to store and count visits to specific OS gadget (not for e-mails and other private info), but any hacker with knowledge on Firebug can delete them (I think).
Cheers.
Jevgenijs

[Glenn Allen]

Thanks, Jevs. I'll look into it.

Can this information be gleaned from visits to an OpenSocial gadget, or might their yet be some way to pull such visit counts or logins directly from each group?

[jevs]

Opensocial itself having no info about groups, but you can do it at your own servers with additinal code and data base (also to ensure security). OS gadgets can collect only viewer ID, name, photo and profile url or users input, later - more info about other profle data. But I am not expert, just learning.
Cheers.
Jevgenijs

[Glenn Allen]

Thanks again, Jevs. I guess that means, then, that we get that information either: (1) directly from the Ning code; or (2) from our application directly if it's presented as an OpenSocial gadget. Does that sound about right?

Glenn

[jevs]

I would identify Ning and OS gadget code as user interface, but you will need something more to verify, update and group information collected from this interface. For example if you logged to Gmail, OS gadget can show you different interface with all e-mails without additional login. But security is ensured by Gmail and e-mails are stored also by Gmail. So you will need somebody with php or similar knowledge to do most of job at your servers.
Cheers.
Jevgenijs