Alchemy Of A Different Kind

 

Let's Play Alchemist

 To See If We Can Create Gold

We're now going to add some powerful stuff.

It's so vibrant it may someday become the basis for a stunning new way of navigating your personal time-space continuum.

In fact, we think ANKOB has the potential to evolve into a whole new publishing industry.

An industry where the word ”author” seems so limited and inadequate.

Perhaps “creator” (Or, dare we say alchemist? Oh my!) is a better way to describe the process of combining writing with graphics and audio-video using all the previously mentioned platforms. 

Specifically:

• Social Media
• Cloud Computing
• ALL-media Visual (Mind) Maps
• eBooks using DNL Reader and format. [See tab on menu bar.]

We think so.

Now, since those reading this post will likely be quite familiar with Social Media and Cloud Computing, we won't dropkick you into the Pit Of Boredom (POB) by discussing either.

Instead, we'll be devoting considerable time in the future to get you acquainted with All-media Visual (Mind) Maps and the DNL Reader and format.

While Mind Maps can be used in astounding ways, we'll mostly talk about how they can be used as a Control Room or Dashboard for the remaining parts of ANKOB.

Once you see the amazing range and capabilities of “books” created using the DNL format, you'll be gobsmacked, as the British like to say.

Comes now a little metaphor to better understand what we're talking about.

“It's the STARTER, You Dumb Ass!“

[“Dumb Ass” as in “Dumb Donkey”]

Sourdough bread “starter” became famous during the time of the Klondike Gold Rush in August 1896.

Starter needed to be carried by prospectors over the infamous Chilkoot Pass in order to have a stable and sustainable bread to eat while panning for gold in the Yukon wilderness.

Earlier we said you are a “finishing author” and you are – in two ways.

1. As described in the Preface on the above navigation bar, you write your own story in Cyberspace as you sail the Sea Of Discovery. A voyage where you turn information into knowledge.
2. You can personalize, modify, and change any ANKOB by using all the platforms and tools to discover, select, create, and then add new information and knowledge that is meaningful to you.

It's a concept NO OTHER “book” can match. None.

No other information/knowledge system contains as much --- in one package --- on any screen --- at any time --- the interconnected world of ANKOB.

HUNGRY? You set about collecting the ingredients and bake some bread.

Who doesn't love fresh-baked bread?

• ANKOB provides the recipe, basic ingredients, starter, kitchen, utensils, oven, and fire.

• You modify the recipe if you wish, add your ingredients, knead the dough, stick it in the oven, and bake the bread.

• Best of all, you get to sit by the fire and eat it exactly as you want and need.

Importantly, no matter the task or subject at hand, everyone is DIFFERENT.

Everyone has different needs, wants, desires, knowledge, skills, talent,

ability, ad infinitum.

This existing and undeniable difference is where most systems of presenting information (and offering the potential for gaining knowledge) falls pitifully short.

It's where all printed books and articles fail to get you fully involved.

They do not have complete and efficient ways for you to interact based on

your life experiences, knowledge, and skill set.

ANKOB's offer a TOTAL PACKAGE that engages all the senses except taste

and smell.

We're working on taste; delicious chocolate to start.

Smell is another matter. Think what an explosive “rotten egg” Flame War could erupt in this Brave New World of Politically Correct Speech. 

Say what? Weapons of Mass Ex-stink-tion?

New ways of presenting information and knowledge are popping out of the

ether everywhere. Here's one example of a paradigm-disrupting teaching concept by Salman Khan at his Khan Academy.

He's in process of radically changing the way people learn mathematics and many other subjects. (Over 2,500 short 10 minute videos to date.)

One reason Bill Gates invested in the Academy, and his children use the Khan Academy, is because of the unique way the courses are taught with superior content.

Students START at the place where they don't know, go back and recover

missed or forgotten knowledge, and learn new material at their own pace and and time.

And, they do so 365 days/year and any place on the planet with a computer and Internet access.

Best of all, they do it based on THEIR OWN NEEDS AND DESIRES.

So,, they are free to choose the level of math they need for their specific wants or interests. [Not everybody needs calculus to count sheep. This Flock doesn't. :-)]

If you take the time to peruse his site you may want to “ponder” how much more his already terrific system could be improved. 
 

Imagine if he added “text book” ANKOB's to accompany his videos. Including, of course, well-crafted All-media Visual (Mind ) Maps. This would be an exciting and amazing addition to any particular course or segment thereof.

One possibility is a mind map with each node representing a chapter of the text book; said chapter to be in the form of a DNL-formatted mini-ebook.

The DNL eBook "chapter" would contain the related instructional video along with the text and graphics. 

One could even insert a window within the book into which the student could make notes, draw a graph, or try different problem solutions using his/her pen tablet. 

Best of all, then saving the effort within the DNL ebook for future discussion or review. Think about that!

Next comes a closer examination of the ANKOB components.