The Rumbling Edge

Continued from part one..

Question 6: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird, in the form of an extension or otherwise. (Some may already have been implemented as extensions) (Note: Mac OS X Address Book integration and support for tabbed messages have already made it to Thunderbird trunk.)

Options:

• Default calendaring support
• Data synchronization with PDAs / mobile phones / other stuff
• Search bar improvements (e.g. Search suggestions, advanced operators etc.)
• Find-as-you-type
• Collapse quotes in email / newsgroup messages
• Improved migration of data (e.g. export all emails / selected newsgroup messages based on search criteria using 7z compression etc.)
• Minimize-to-tray
• Groupware server integration (e.g. Kolab)
• Instant messaging
• 64-bit support
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
• Offline applications (e.g. integration with Facebook)
• Others
• Video conferencing

The OpenSTV .blt file I used is available here. The various options were used with their default settings.

a) Instant runoff voting algorithm ("If you are electing one person and simplicity is important, then we recommend instant runoff voting. Instant runoff voting is easy to explain and gives good results." - from OpenSTV FAQ)

Output from OpenSTV:

Election: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird in the form of an extension or otherwise.
Method: IRV
Number of Ballots: 688
14 candidates running for 1 seats.

Round 1: Count of first place rankings.
Round 2: Eliminating candidate Video conferencing.
Round 3: Eliminating candidate Search bar improvements.
Round 4: Eliminating candidate Find-as-you-type.
Round 5: Eliminating candidate Minimize-to-tray.
Round 6: Eliminating candidate Improved migration of data.
Round 7: Eliminating candidate Others.
Round 8: Eliminating candidate Collapse quotes in messages.
Round 9: Eliminating candidate VOIP.
Round 10: Eliminating candidate Offline applications.
Round 11: Eliminating candidate Instant messaging.
Round 12: Eliminating candidate Data synchronization with other devices.
Round 13: Eliminating candidate 64-bit support.
Candidate Default calendaring support is elected.

Winner is Default calendaring support.

b) Condorcet voting algorithm ("If you are electing one person and simplicity is not important, then we recommend Condorcet voting. Most people agree that Condorcet is the best method for electing one person, but it is more difficult to explain." - from OpenSTV FAQ)

Output from OpenSTV:

Election: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird in the form of an extension or otherwise.
Method: Condorcet
Completion Method: Schwartz Sequential Dropping
Number of Ballots: 688
14 candidates running for 1 seat.

Pairwise Comparison Matrix:

Smith Set: Default calendaring support
No completion necessary since the Smith set has just one candidate.
Winner is Default calendaring support.

c) Scottish STV voting algorithm ("If you are electing multiple people and simplicity is important, then we recommend Scottish STV, as it is the simplest of all the STV methods." - from OpenSTV FAQ)

Output from OpenSTV:

Election: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird in the form of an extension or otherwise.
Method: Scottish STV
Number of Ballots: 688
Threshold Name: Droop Static Whole
Threshold Value: 115.0
Delayed Transfer of Surplus: Not Enabled.
Batch Elimination: None
14 candidates running for 5 seats.

Round 1: Count of first place rankings.
Candidate Default calendaring support is elected.
Round 2: Transferring surplus votes from candidate Default calendaring support.
Round 3: Eliminating candidate Video conferencing.
Round 4: Eliminating candidate Search bar improvements.
Round 5: Eliminating candidate Improved migration of data.
Round 6: Eliminating candidate Find-as-you-type.
Round 7: Eliminating candidate Collapse quotes in messages.
Candidate 64-bit support is elected.
Round 8: Transferring surplus votes from candidate 64-bit support.
Round 9: Eliminating candidate Minimize-to-tray.
Candidate Groupware server integration is elected.
Round 10: Transferring surplus votes from candidate Groupware server integration.
Round 11: Eliminating candidate Others.
Round 12: Eliminating candidate Offline applications.
Candidate Data synchronization with other devices is elected.
Round 13: Transferring surplus votes from candidate Data synchronization with other devices.
Candidate Instant messaging is elected.

Winners are Default calendaring support, 64-bit support, Groupware server integration, Data synchronization with other devices, Instant messaging.

Continued in part three..