The document discusses MixTrail, a content connection system that allows users to create linear collections of webpages on a topic called trails. Trails are created by connecting relevant pages from across the web into a sequential narrative around a topic. MixTrail aims to foster deeper understanding of topics by surfacing the best related content and connecting them in a coherent manner. Trail creators are called Trail Guides and they curate and maintain the trails over time to ensure the information stays current.

1. One thing leads to another.
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2. Today we have access to more information
and content than ever; and yet, I’m
concerned that this isn’t making us more
well-rounded, more knowledgeable, wiser.
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3. I’m concerned that our emphasis on “the stream” --
news / timely information / ephemeral content --
leaves us knowing where we are now...
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4. ...but not how we got here or where we’re going.
We need to look at the bigger picture.
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5. Search helps us find items we’re looking for.
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6. Search helps us find items we’re looking for.
Social media ties us to each other and helps
surface information we care about.
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7. Search helps us find items we’re looking for.
Social media ties us to each other and helps
surface information we care about.
Websites and blogs provide organizations
and individuals with publishing platforms.
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8. Search helps us find items we’re looking for.
Social media ties us to each other and helps
surface information we care about.
Websites and blogs provide organizations
and individuals with publishing platforms.
Sites like Wikipedia, Quora, Yelp!, Flickr, and
others allow people to create, collaborate
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9. But they're all so separate.
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10. For example, if we hope to understand “civilization”,
it helps to understand the long journey from hunter/
gatherer to clicker/tapper.
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11. To do so, we can turn to all kinds of information.
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12. COLLECTIONS
STUDIESDISCUSSIONS
DOCUMENTS PHOTOS
To do so, we can turn to all kinds of information.
BOOKS
VIDEOS
INFOGRAPHICS
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13. Much of this content lives on the
Web in one form or another.
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14. But while they are parts of the same story,
they are frequently not connected.
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15. They are buried within separate websites from
different organizations.
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16. They are buried within separate websites from
different organizations.
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17. MixTrail provides a platform for people to
connect the best content from across the Web into
meaningful, usable, linear collections.
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18. + + + +
MixTrail is a content connection system.
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19. + + + +
MixTrail is a content connection system.
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20. MixTrail lets you create, share, and follow trails of
information across the Web.
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25. What is a Trail?
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26. At it’s most basic, a trail is a series of sequential
pages connected by a user around a topic.
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27. Many topics are multi-layered, multi-sided
and multi-faceted stories.
MixTrail nurtures deeper understanding of a
topic by connecting the best content
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28. Trails are created by humans.
Trails are intentionally limited in length, nudging users
to create concise, meaningful collections.
(Trails need to be of manageable length to be helpful.)
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29. Viewing a Trail
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30. Initially, a viewer sees a trail summary.
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31. The viewer moves through the pages within the trail.
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33. The viewer can open a trail preview panel.
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35. Finding a Trail
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36. MixTrail is conceived to fill a gap within the Web
ecosystem; therefore, it is not a closed garden. Trails
are intended to be search-friendly and as accessible
as any webpage.
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37. Trails can be explored on MixTrail.com...
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38. ...found via search...
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39. ...found via embed......found via embed...
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40. ...discovered using a browser extension...
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41. ...or found based on similarity to other trails.
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42. Creating a Trail
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43. Someone who creates a trail is called a Trail Guide.
He or she maintains the trail and monitors the
content to make sure that the information remains
current. Trails are living, not static.
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44. Name your trail.
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45. Describe it.
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46. Browse for pages to include on your trail.
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47. Add the page.
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48. Describe the page.
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49. Edit and rearrange the trail.
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50. Publish it!
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51. All your trails are collected on your Trail Guide page.
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52. Maintaining a Trail
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53. Just as a trail in the woods becomes overgrown
without use, a MixTrail and it's content can become
outdated or be superseded by better content.
Nurturing good content is a key aspect of MixTrail.
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54. Feedback is collected at the trail and page level.
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55. Likes and dislikes create two channels of feedback.
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56. You are asked different questions if you dislike it.
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57. Trail Guides can review all the feedback.
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58. Aggregated feedback on webpages included in trails
would be collected and could be made available to
the page's author, serving as a nudge to create
better content.
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59. Following Trails
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60. Remember, the big goal of MixTrail is to foster
deeper understanding of topics. Users can follow a
trail, chart their progress, and receive notifications
when the Trail Guide has modified the trail.
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61. When you follow a trail, your progress is tracked.
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62. A page that's been read is indicated as such.
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63. The status page shows you how complete you are
and indicates when content has changed.
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64. Platforms
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65. Web
Mobile - mobile interface / reader
functionality
Tablet - reader / Trail Guide app
API - make available an API allowing other
tools to compile trails through this platform.
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66. One thing leads to another.
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