A New Look for KnowMap

by Xenia Stanford, Editor-in-Chief, KnowMap and President, Stanford Solutions Inc.

Using Customer Capital

At KnowMap we gather and use customer capital. We want to know what you know and what you need. We use it to determine the right authors to contact, the right subject matter to cover and the topical categories to arrange.

Thus with the launch of Volume 2, Number 1 we are also releasing our new site design. Through focus group surveys and input from those who visited our site, we determined what might make our site easier to navigate for the knowledge you seek.

A New Portal Opening the Way to the World of Knowledge

First you may have noticed we have a new portal. This page is easier for search engine positioning since the content is more constant than our cover page that changes every two months when a new issue is released.

Our intention with the new portal is not to form a gate from which you pass into an inner sanctum. Instead we wish to show you the passageway from which you can sail from the Sea of Data, past the Straits of Information into the open Waters of Shared Knowledge. Rather than acting as gatekeepers we want to stand atop the cliffs and wave you on your way.

Figure 2: Open Portal

Photo courtesy of NOAA - see Photo Credits

Yes, there are parts that we reserve for subscribers only. This is only to ensure we can continue to support this endeavour, as we will not resort to pop-up ads, cookies or other forms of invasive advertising.

We will continue to seek high quality advertisers and sponsors who have products of value to an audience such as those we target. Our Audience and Purpose has not changed, though we are always sharpening our focus to meet expressed needs.

We have now had a year to establish and assess our value. We find we are very well received with an audience arriving from many ports throughout the globe, including every continent, except Antarctica, and many island nations.

Each day new people are finding us and now we have measurable merit to offer quality sponsors and advertisers. To see how you can leverage your knowledge management products and services through us, visit our Advertising page.

Dragons and Dangers

On our masthead (see Figure 2) we show the dragon, representing the ignorance that may try to prevent you from entering these waters. Perhaps this ignorance is only not being able to find KnowMap or, once found, not knowing how to sail through to the destinations and depths that you seek.

Figure 2: KnowMap Masthead

Like the ancient mariners and cartographers who drew dragons beyond the known territories on the map, we draw this creature sitting above the world of knowledge trying to take a bite out of the K!

Then we have the slogan charting the known and slaying the unknown dragons. What does it mean?

Too often in modern life we stop at the pillars of the known and never dare pass through to the unknown dangers waiting beyond. Yet we will ever swim in what we know and never gain more ground unless we have the courage of those ancient explorers to take the risk and venture further.

That is why we chose our globe as one that does not show the usual view of the world. This one shows land and ocean but is not as easily pinned down to what continent or exactly what viewpoint this might be.

The unusual earth is surrounded by a strange atmos-sphere. Atmos is the ancient Greek word for air or breath and also means indivisible. Thus we see modern use of these terms in both atmosphere and the atom, which cannot be divided into smaller particles and still retain the characteristics of the original substance.

Some have said this looks like an eye. If so we do not mind for it may be keeping an eye out for those dragons of ignorance we must slay so they do not prevent our journey into the further reaches of knowledge. Ever on the lookout, we must be prepared to push beyond the known and innovate our way to creating new spheres of knowledge.

Audience Spheres

Also from our portal you can see our new realm with this global eye floating in the centre connecting five spheres of knowledge.

Figure 3: Mini Site Map

This new mini site map (see Figure 3) shows at a high level the type of people who arrive at our site and then look for direction.

To hand each the map of most use for them to chart their way into the deeper waters, we have drawn these separate spheres for each type of passenger. This does not prevent anyone from visiting back and forth without restriction except for those areas whose innermost depths are reserved for Subscribers and Collaborators.

Welcome Visitors!

At the top or 12 o'clock view we start with Visitors guiding them to the pages of most value for them. These are the areas drop-in guests can view without a subscription.

Also it clearly marks where the boundaries begin to the more privileged knowledge shared by generous experienced contributors and reserved for our subscribers and collaborators.

Thus visitors can see what we offer to all and what further value lies in the deep. They can choose to venture in or leave with knowledge gained from the first frontier.

Welcome Media!

Then we have the Media sphere helping those who wish to find our major accomplishments as shown in our News Releases. In addition they can see what pages give additional information about our Board, our Contributors and other pages that explain our mission and vision in more depth.

So venture in and find out more about KnowMap! Then tell the world what treasures can be found past the portals.

Welcome Collaborators!

To prepare for any voyage takes many willing and able hands. These are our Collaborators.

	Contributors who share their wisdom on any of our Categories (topics)
	Advertisers and sponsors who share the costs of outfitting the venture so the ticket prices are not overwhelming for the passengers
	Subscribers who buy tickets to journey for the farthest reach
	Visitors who stop by to see us off when we launch
	Partners, such as Board members, who share the vision and help power the vessel
	Media representatives who report our ventures to the outside world
	Reporters who come back from distant shores and tell us what they learned
	Subscription Agents who help us sell tickets for the voyage
	And many more without whom the venture would never leave the shore

Current Contents

Without content there would be no purpose. Without Current Contents we would be passé.

This sphere shows all we have to offer to date from the inaugural volume (which we offer to anyone as a short trial journey) to the latest issue.

Prior to the launch of Volume 2, we divided the site map into branches by topic or category as we more commonly call them. We found this limited our expanse.

Now we have gathered all the issues into one fold and made it easier to see what shores and waters await. This ensures a broader vision and limitless horizon ahead.

Figure 4: Setting Sail

Photo courtesy of NOAA - see Photo Credits

Welcome Subscribers!

Now we arrive at the sphere of most influence - our Subscribers!

These are the folk who take the chance and buy a ticket to sail into the unknown.

These are the passengers who are willing to pay full fare to reserve a berth so each time we land on a new beach they are there.

Without their faith in us we would not be able to start any journey - so welcome and all aboard for our venture now and beyond.

Photo Credits

The photographs credited to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) are from collections available for public use. The use here does not imply direct permission nor constitute endorsement of the contents of this page by NOAA.

Figure 2: Porthole from deck of the NATHANIEL B. PALMER. Image ID: corp2355, NOAA Corps Collection, October 1998; photographer: Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA

Figure 4: Taken from the NOAA Ship SURVEYOR. Image ID: line1033, America's Coastlines Collection, Llama Channel, British Columbia. 1980 ca., Photographer: Jay Lurie


ISSN 1499-1209	© Stanford Solutions