title: Desktop Notifications, aka Internal Alert System
body: <p>It has become apparent that where I work needs, internally, a "notification system".  The issue being that we are very spread out throughout multiple buildings and the bulk of the work force regularly keeps there email closed for hours at a time.</p>
  
  <p>I need to create a simple way to be able to push out a message and have it "pop up" on everyones computer(or a single computer).  </p>
  
  <p>My first thought was to write a windows service that calls a winform/wpf app that resides on each computer that simply pops up with the message.  Not sure how viable an idea that is but this is just brain-storming.</p>
  
  <p>A different route, I thought, could be an app that resides in the systray on each computer that polls a db table and using the <a href="http://www.codeproject.com/KB/database/QueryNotifications.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Query Notifications</a> could pop up a message each time a new row is added.  Then simply create an insanely basic app for writing a row to that table.</p>
  
  <p>So, what I am asking is if any one else has walked this path.  If so, how?  </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>What things did you take into
  consideration?</p></li>
  <li><p>Are either of my ideas valid starting
  points or are "egg and my face in
  perfect alignment"?</p></li>
  <li><p>Is there a different way that is even
  simpler?</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>Some simple requirements --> Must be "One Way" as I cannot give our user base a "chat" system.  Must be, somewhat, hidden so as to discourage users shutting it off.  A la system tray or service.</p>