Welcome to BackChannel

BackChannel is a lightweight feedback tool for reviewing static web content in offline or secure environments.

Ian Mayo, Deep Blue C Ltd

Who It's For

  • Document authors and reviewers
  • Analysts working in secure or disconnected networks
  • Teams distributing HTML-based technical manuals

Why Now?

Legacy documentation is moving to HTML. But feedback workflows haven't caught up — especially for disconnected teams.

Core Use Case: Feedback on the Disconnected Web

BackChannel enables structured, contextual feedback — with no server, and no dependencies beyond the browser.

Feedback Capture Mode

Click the BackChannel icon to highlight and comment on elements in the page.

Review Mode

Document authors can open feedback files and resolve comments across all pages.

Multi-Page Document Support

Feedback is collected across a document set, with easy navigation between pages.

Workflow Overview

  1. User starts feedback package on intro page
  2. Feedback is added across pages
  3. CSV is exported and shared
  4. Author loads and resolves comments

Business Objectives

  • Enable secure, air-gapped feedback loops
  • Support static HTML publications
  • Zero-install for end users

Zero-Network Dependency

Works entirely in the browser. Uses IndexedDB for local persistence. Nothing sent over the network.

Layered on Legacy Content

BackChannel works with unmodified legacy HTML — no classes, no hooks required.

Security: Privacy by Design

  • All data is stored locally
  • No network communication at any stage
  • Only user-visible content is stored

Security: Content Safety

Feedback is stored separately, and displayed safely via DOM sanitation techniques.

Planned Enhancements

  • Advanced filtering and sorting of comments
  • Visual overview of feedback locations
  • Author-side tools for CSV export and summary
  • Custom branding

Path to Broader Adoption

  • Single-file JS loader for drop-in use
  • Growing interest in static, interactive documents
  • Opportunity to extend into form-based inputs

Opportunities for Collaboration

We're looking for partners to pilot, fund, and extend BackChannel. Let’s explore the potential together.

Next Steps

  • Visit the GitHub repo
  • Try the demo
  • Contact us for a walkthrough