...
Yes. Our experience says that improving user experience also means speed up UI responses, auto-complete, auto-suggestion features and so on. As so, it will use Solr, more properly, the (search) discovery module, but not only, it will also use Solr for the extended statistical module.
How it will be distributed?
As all DSpace Lyncode products, for free (with Apache 2 license). Initially as an addon for DSpace, it also will be offered to the DSpace community as a code contribution.
When it will be released?
...
Lyncode @ DSpace - dspace@lyncode.com
Hugo Ribeiro - hribeiro@lyncode.com (UI expert)
Ricardo Silva - ricardo@lyncode.com (Mobile expert)
Miguel Pinto - mpinto@lyncode.com (Database expert)
Miguel Peixoto - miguel.peixoto@gmail.com (Designer)
Workflow
1. Share an initial draft proposal (Hugo Ribeiro + Miguel Peixoto)
1.1. New DSpace features
1.2. New UI enhancements
2. DSpace community contact
2.1. Suggestions/warns from dspace-tech/devel
2.2. Suggestions from dspace-general / Lyncode partners
3. Cyclic development and discussion with the DSpace community/Lyncode partners
3.1. Releasing new necessary DSpace modules (Extended Statistical module, Admin tools, Interoperability/Import/Export tools)
NOTE: this is a draft