[View this page as PDF](/blog/2007/11/08/13-15-08.503110/100.pdf)
Over the last couple of moths we've been breaking the ICE. That is, we
have been taking the big, complex [Integrated Content
Environment](http://ice.usq.edu.au/) and making it easier to use just
parts of it.
It's hard not to notice that the only place where full-blown ICE is used
much is at USQ, in that environment we have a hundred plus users, and
growing steadily, but the external teams we've tried to get using ICE
have all been slow to adopt it.
I have been thinking a lot about why this is.
- It's too hard to install and set up, including the server-side
components. (We're working on making it easier, bit by bit).
- People don't perceive a need for HTML and PDF versions of their
documents (although many do, and there are some [supporters out
there](http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/2007/08/html-for-oa-journals-and-repositories.html)).
- At USQ our academic staff are used to creating book-length
distance-ready course content and we push hard for flexible
delivery, so people do want HTML and PDF versions of content. Other
places there's not the same culture.
There's lots more work to do, but we have made good progress on the
following:
1. A server-based version of ICE –
nothing to install locally except a toolbar / template for your word
processor. It will keep all your files under version control and let
you build books, and courses using the same web interface as the
current version.
2. A few other ways to make good HTML from a desktop word processor
without having ICE take over all your files and your life:
1. A command line version of ICE you could build into another
application.
2. We are now testing a toolbar-button that will let you make good
quality XHTML from your word processor and post it straight to
an atompub enabled blogging site without having to use ICE. You
still need to download ICE, but you don't have to run it as a
webserver (Windows only so far – other platforms coming as Sam
sorts out how). More on this in the very near future.
3. An ICE web conversion service that other applications will be
able to use. See the [demos
page](http://ice.usq.edu.au/presentations/demos/index.htm):
- We're working at USQ on building this into Moodle. Instead
of delivering Word documents lecturers will be able to use
the ICE template upload to Moodle and get HTML and PDF
versions automatically. ([Peter Albion – are you
listening](http://ptsefton.com/blog/2005/11/02/more_about_ice_and_why_xhtml_is_important)?
Using Zotero you'll be able to write documents with proper
reference management and publish them in both HTML and PDF
at the click of a button. Isn't that better than dealing
with DreamWeaver?)
- Other integrations with the OpenJournal system, Microsoft
Content Management System, Sharepoint, and various
repositories are also planned – bringing ICE to new
audiences.
4. And following from (b) and (c) we'll be building a toolbar that
can call a remote ICE web service - nothing to install but a
word processor plugin.