Wiffiti F.A.Q.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
- What is Wiffiti?
- What do I do with a Wiffiti?
- I'm a restaurant/bar/business owner; can I use Wiffiti for commercial use?
- Who uses Wiffiti?
- How do I run a full-screen Wiffiti?
- What's it cost?
- Where does Wiffiti come from?
- How do I moderate my Wiffiti?
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
- How do I get a true full-screen to load?
- I see an empty frame where my Wiffiti should be. Where'd it go?
- I have a new feature or modification that I'd really like to see. What do I do?
- I signed up but never received a confirmation email. What's up with that?
- What should I do if something's not working?
WIFFITI ON THE WEB
- How do I embed my Wiffiti in a blog or website?
- How do I put my Wiffiti on MySpace?
- Can I embed someone else's Wiffiti?
CUSTOMIZATION
- How do I get my name signed automatically at the end of every text I send to screens?
- I have a really cool photo of a monkey. How do I make it my Wiffiti background?
- I don't have a really cool photo of a monkey (or any photos, for that matter). How do I get a Wiffiti background?
- How do I get polling, games, or other special features on my screen?
WIFFITI JARGON
What is Wiffiti?
Wiffiti "Screens" (or "Walls") allow you to send text messages to locations. A location could be a real one, like a café, bar, or political rally, or it could be a virtual one, like a website or blog.
Wiffiti Screens can be live in locations and on the web simultaneously.
What do I do with a Wiffiti?
- Embed it on your MySpace or blog using the embed code on the My Screen page. Your friends can then txt comments directly to your page.
- Use a projector or your computer/laptop monitor to display your Wiffiti in full-screen mode at your next party. Just click on the "Full-screen player" link at the bottom left of the My Screen page.
- Use Wiffiti to promote discussion among attendees at your conference, rally, or group event. Then embed the same screen in your website so friends and colleagues can participate remotely
- Have a band? Project a Wiffiti screen at your concert and show it on your website at the same time.
I'm a restaurant/bar/business owner; can I use Wiffiti for commercial use?
Wiffiti can also be used for commercial use with proper approval and licensing. Put a Wiffiti in your restaurant, bar, or hotel lobby. Add games and polls to reduce perceived wait time and help patrons break the ice. Contact us for more information.
Who uses Wiffiti?
Here's a starter list: the ADL, TechCrunch, Captain Morgan, Toscanini's Ice Cream Parlors, the Nonprofit Technology Network, the people at the Daily Kos, the band Silent Service, Calvin Klein, our friend Elisa, bars and restaurants around the country, and websites throughout the blogosphere.
How do I run a full-screen Wiffiti?
If you'd like to run your own Wiffiti full-screen, log in and go to your My Screen page. There is a link to "Full-screen player" on the bottom left of the page.
If you don't have your own Wiffiti, or just want to display someone else's: Go to www.Wiffiti.com. Click the Explore tab. Enter search tags or browse until you find a screen you like, and click on it. The My Screen page of that Wiffiti will load. There is a link to "Full-screen player" in the bottom left of the page.
What's it cost?
Basic Wiffiti screens are free to design, display, or embed.
Posting a message costs standard text messaging fees, so whatever it costs you to text a friend.
Where does Wiffiti come from?
Well, when an API and a cell phone love each other very muchÉ wait, no...
Wiffiti is a application of LocaModa, a Massachusetts-based tech startup specializing in social networking technologies. To learn more, please go to www.LocaModa.com.
How do I moderate my Wiffiti?
Moderation is one of our key concerns.
Wiffiti messages are regulated in three different ways. First, every screen has a "filter level" that corresponds to a movie rating, G through NC-17. You can set your filter level by going to the My Screen page and clicking on the Settings link. On a G-Rated screen, even words like "poop" are blocked. A PG-13 rated screen will allow "poop" and some other, slightly more "risqué" words, but will block out curse words with asterisks. An R screen is even less censored. An NC-17 screen has no filtering whatsoever. Remember that you are responsible for all content on your screen, so set your filter level accordingly.
Secondly, every user has a personal moderation panel. You can view this by going to the My Screen page and clicking on Messages. You can Delete specific messages, and also Friend or Ban users as you see fit. You can also choose to only accept messages from friends.
*If your Wiffiti will be displayed in a public venue, you will need third-party moderation services provided by ICUC. Please contact us for more information.
How do I get a true full-screen to load?
If you want to ditch your browser window and allow Wiffiti to fill your monitor:
- On a PC, just press F11.
- On a Mac, you can download a cool new browser called Shiira. This allows for a true full-screen mode (FireFox and Safari still don't allow for this functionality).
- you're on a Mac using FireFox, you can get a near full-screen by going to View>Toolbars and unchecking "Navigation Toolbar" and "Bookmarks Toolbar." You can also hide your dock for more Wiffiti space.
- For Mac and PC users: If you'll be using Wiffiti for a party or event, make sure your screensaver is turned off.
I see an empty frame where my Wiffiti should be. Where'd it go?
Wiffiti runs on Flash, so you likely need to upgrade your current version. You can do so here.
If you are trying to view a Wiffiti at work, you may be blocked by a corporate firewall. You may want to try again at home. Or quit your job.
You can also contact us if none of these solutions seem to work.
I have a new feature or modification that I'd really like to see. What do I do?
Wiffiti is constantly being updated and improved, and we look to you to suggest new features. We appreciate all the feedback we've received already, and every email is given careful consideration in terms of our roadmap. Just contact us.
I signed up but never received a confirmation email. What's up with that?
Check your junk folder. It sometimes gets pushed there by overzealous spam filters.
What should I do if something's not working?
Fill out our spambot-foiling email field here.
How do I embed my Wiffiti in a blog or website?
You can embed your own screen or find one you like on the Explore page.
Just go to the My Screen page of the screen you want to embed. The link to the embed code is on the bottom left of that page. Just copy/paste into your website template.
If you're using a blog editor like Blogger or WordPress, you can either copy/paste the code right into a single post (make sure you're in the html editor when you do so), or edit your template and insert it as a header or a sidebar item.
Using a lesser known blogging platform or social networking site and having difficulty embedding? Let us know here.
How do I put my Wiffiti on MySpace?
Edit your profile. Into any of the text-boxes, paste the embed code (as described above). To see an example of Wiffiti on MySpace, go to www.myspace.com/wiffiti or www.myspace.com/silentservice.
Can I embed someone else's Wiffiti?
Yes! Some Wiffiti screens have been created explicitly to be embedded by others. Check out the screens for many of the 2008 Presidential candidates (search by name on the Explore page), which are a great way to show support. Don't see your favorite candidate represented? Create a Wiffiti for them and start embedding!
CUSTOMIZATION
How do I get my name signed automatically at the end of every text I send to screens?
Just send the message "name XXX" (where XXX is the name you want) to the Wiffiti shortcode, 25622. This message will not appear on any screen. Every subsequent message sent to any screen, however, will be followed by ~XXX (rather than the generic signature with random numbers and letters).
I have a really cool photo of a monkey. How do I make it my Wiffiti background?
All Wiffiti backgrounds are pulled from flickr.com. To use your picture, upload it to flickr, and make sure to mark it as "Public" and "Creative Commons."
Then, go to your My Screen page and click on the Backgrounds and Colors link. Click the Choose New button. From there, you can either search by tag, or enter in the flickr ID of your photo.
The flickr ID is the last string of numbers on the photo's main page. For example, if the URL of your photo is http://flickr.com/photos/betsyjean79/790121583/, then you would enter 790121583 in the search bar. Your photo should pop right up. Then click the Use this picture button.
Once you've selected your photo, you can then select new font colors to match. When you're happy with how your screen looks, make sure to click on the Save Changes and View Screen button to lock in your changes.
I don't have a really cool photo of a monkey (or any photos, for that matter). How do I get a Wiffiti background?
Go to your My Screen page and click on the Backgrounds and Colors link. Click the Choose Newbutton. From there, you can enter in a search term (e.g. monkey, brick wall, gila monster) and see all of the pictures available for backgrounds associated with this term. Click the Use this picture button when you find one that you like.
Once you've selected your photo, you can then select new font colors to match. When you're done, make sure to click on the Save Changes and View Screen button to lock in your changes.
How do I get polling, games, or other special features on my screen?
Right now, these special features are only available for events and public venues. Contact us here if you'd like to learn more about our additional offerings.
What's a screen code?
The screen code is what you write at the beginning of a text message to indicate which screen you wish to text. For example, to text the screen on our Wiffiti blog, which has the screen code BLOG, text a message starting with @BLOG to 25622 (example: "@BLOG Hey guys!"). After that, any subsequent message you send to 25622 will be routed to that particular screen. If you want to message a different screen, simply send a message beginning @XXX to 25622, where XXX is the code of the new screen.
Tips:
- When setting a code for your screen, it's best to keep it short and memorable (i.e. "TIGER" is much less taxing to txt than "OMGTIGERLOL."
- Screen codes must be four characters or longer.
- Screen codes are not case sensitive.
What Makes a Screen Title, a Screen Code, and a Shortcode different?
The Screen Title is merely a header for your Wiffiti. It should give some people an idea of what the screen's purpose is (i.e. whether discussion is political or whimsical, personal or cultural). It can also designate a particular event that the screen is being used for.
For example: Nikki's Wall of Horrors, Txt for an End to Genocide, The Dartmouth College Wall, Yearly Kos 2007, Donald Trumps Owns This Screen, and so on.
The Wiffiti Shortcode is 25622. This acts just like a phone number. It is where you send messages destined for any screen. It is also where you send a message to reset your name.
When you start a message with a Screen Code ("@XXX"), it indicates the screen on which your message will be displayed.
Wiffiti is a trademark of LocaModa Inc.