Talk:XPLANE (company)

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[edit] Redirect

I removed the redirect to X-PLANE, the flight simulator company. There is a company called XPLANE, and I believe the redirect implies that no such company exists. It is notable that a google search for "XPLANE" lists XPLANE before X-PLANE.

The XPLANE article was recently deleted. This decision is likely to be challenged. In the meantime a re-direct will have the potential to confuse people central to that discussion.Dgray xplane 22:52, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

So remove the XPlane redirect WHEN AND IF it's appealed. Otherwise it's just a blank page, which is even more confusing to the reader. --Charlesknight 23:09, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Deleted the redirect. The fact that the company exists is not in debate. XPLANE is not the same as X-PLANE. It is not a misspelling. There is legitimate and long-standing confusion between the two companies.

Is it possible to put up a page that is not blank but does not confuse the reader by sending them to a company that is different than the one they are searching for? Anyone have a recommendation? This is especially timely because there is a debate at the moment which is very likely to be proposed for restoration. Dgray xplane 00:44, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

The history of this discussion page and the original XPLANE article was deleted along with the original article. I have asked the admin for information about how to retrieve the article. I am not sure how to move forward in the appeal process without having the ability to refer to the original article. The Wikipedia help desk said it should be viewable in the history logs but it is not. Does anyone have any guidance on this?Dgray xplane 02:15, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

Sorry, don't know what blanking means. But XPLANE is a registered trademark and a real company. I have asked for recommendations on the talk page. I don't know the proper solution but I submit that re-direct of a page where there has been an article since 2004 is the drastic measure. Please educate me, I'm a newbie. But don't re-direct the page without at least leaving some explanation on the talk page. Jahiegel, please show the courtesy of explaining your actions in plain english.Dgray xplane 07:21, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

I HIGHLY recommend using the "primary" "xplain" page as a redirect. If/when this article is moved into the main space it should have another name, ugly as that may be. XPLAIN (company) would be a start, but (visualizations) and similar tags might be appropriate as well. Maury 13:03, 23 November 2006 (UTC)
The original XPLANE page had a redirect to X-PLANE at the top. XPLANE is well known and highly notable in its field. The original article had a redirect at the top to X-PLANE (Flight simulator company) and X PLANE (Experimental aircraft). Nobody had an issue with this for two years. XPLANE (Company) could work.
Try a Google search for XPLANE (not XPLAIN) and you'll see that XPLANE Corp. does come up first in the search.
If this is re-added, a disambig page may work best, but that's a bit in the future if it's to happen at all and would be best decided then. As to the current article-one main problem is that the source cited (the CNN Money article) does go a good way toward establishing notability, but does not support all the factual information within the article (such as that it was the "first notable company to..."). Also, there's a lot of advertising tone left-for example, "was praised for" should probably be changed to a few short quotes or paraphrases ("Business 2.0 Magazine stated "")... Addition of some more sources would be a great start. Seraphimblade 16:44, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
Why can't there be a disambiguation page that lists XPLANE the company and X-Plane the software project? Seems like a simple answer to a potential ongoing confusion, especially if entering "xplane" leads only to X-Plane now.Sociate 19:23, 25 November 2006 (PDT)
I am working on an improved article at User:Dgray xplane/XPLANE. Comments edits, and suggestions for improvement are much appreciated.
Good number of mentions it looks like. Are any of these besides the CNN one available online? I can google around too, but that's hit or miss sometimes. Seraphimblade 20:12, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rewrite

Moved from the article. "below" thus refers to the article. Uncle G 09:44, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

This article is an attempt to improve on the original which has been deleted. The original article can be seen below. Please consider taking a moment to help me edit this article and make it better, specifically any assistance you can give to "neutralize" the point of view. Thanks, Dgray xplane

[edit] Some quotations, moved from the article

The following quotations are inappropriate for an encyclopaedia article. The original sources (and this means original, not the edited copies that are published by XPLANE) should be cited and used as appropriate. Uncle G 09:40, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
  1. Office.com, 15 May 2000: “XPLANE graphics embody the principle that an image conveys the message better than words.”
  2. InfoViz.net, 10 Aug. 2002“Visual Narrative is entering in the business world, combining the virtues of conceptual diagrams with the coolness of comics... For images can resemble what they represent — becoming auto illustrative elements, while words, ideal for abstraction, are deficient for description. It's not an easy task to describe a platypus using words and guaranteeing that the receiver of the message understands what animal it is. In this sense the XPLANE company is performing pioneering work in introducing visual narrative in the field of business communication.”
  3. CNN, 10 Aug. 2000: “Increasingly, companies are trying new tools to help better explain the value of their product or service. Many are developing graphics and images that evolve traditional PowerPoints to the next level. One company, used by several leading corporations as well as technology publications, XPLANE, bills itself as the Visual Thinking Company. XPLANE takes complex information and translates it into visually interesting pictograms that define a problem and solution.” Link: http://money.cnn.com/2000/08/10/cashflow/q_graphics/
  4. Rockport Publishers, 26 Nov. 2000: “One technique Business 2.0 has employed to enliven its pages, however, has become an important part of its brand. Early on the magazine hired a company called XPLANE to make a diagram of a business concept to illustrate a story. What emerged were elaborate infographics abuzz with what [art director Laura] Morris calls 'little ant people' — stick figures with funny facial expressions racing from one section of the diagram to the other.”
  5. Metropolis Magazine, 22 Nov. 2000: “Considering all the hoopla about information design, there's a dearth of knowledgeable commentary on the subject both online and off. XPLANE, a small, young, St. Louis-based studio with an established track record for creating fresh and communicative information graphics, is attempting to remedy the situation. The firm specializes in a vivid cartoonlike house style intended to unravel the complex realities of high-tech companies — but they take this stuff seriously. Their site hosts an online posting of links to relevant an informative articles that is updated almost daily. Topics covered in the studio's 'visual thinking' weblog [xBlog] and case studies include GUIs (graphical user interfaces), statistical maps, and discussions of internet protocols and brand strategy.”
  6. Yahoo Finance, 4 Oct. 2000: New Project Puts Seattle's Technology Community on the Map | “The first-ever Technology Venture Map will soon be hitting the presses, featuring the Seattle area's leading high-tech companies, venture funding sources, and professional service providers... The Map itself will feature a colorful, graphical representation of the city designed by XPLANE.com, creators of Business 2.0 InfoGraphics...”
  7. Business 2.0, 4 Dec. 2000: “Business 2.0, the international, award-winning media brand, has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) with awards for editorial excellence ... Both award-winning articles included detailed information graphics by XPLANE, the creator of the magazine's easy-to-understand visual 'XPLANATiONS,' a feature that has established Business 2.0 as a leader in visual content, and sets it apart in a field of crowded New Economy and business titles.”
  8. eMALE, Apr. 200: “...where Fast Company concerns itself with broader issues in business, Business 2.0 is single minded in its coverage of the web. Big job, made harder by the blistering pace of change and development. One of the tools this title uses to outstanding effect are the graphics developed by XPLANE to help us mortals to understand portals and the mechanics of the web. Simplification of anything is a worthwhile endeavour...”
  9. Reader opinion published on Epinions.com, 5 Nov. 1999: “Some publications take pride in confusing readers — but not Business 2.0. They generously pepper the magazine with XPLANE.com's concise, yet friendly, information graphics. XPLANE.com is a consultancy specializing in 'Visual Thinking,' which is essentially the art of representing complex tasks and processes with simple and easy to understand graphics. I would venture to say that these supporting images enhance my understanding of some articles by well over 50%. It's one of the reasons that I am such a loyal reader.”
  10. Nyhedsgrafik.dk, 4 Apr. 2001: “And even if the name requires American pronunciation it should not stop a Dane from visiting their website... The first time I checked in I had the impression I had seen the future of graphics — nothing less.” (Translated from Danish)
  11. Whole Earth Magazine, 1 Feb. 2001: “XPLANE's xBlog is one of three web design weblogs recommended by Whole Earth magazine as “a few of the best.” The others include Jakob Nielsen's famous useit.com and Jason Kottke's infamous kottke.org."
  12. iteachnet's International Education Daily, 23 Jun. 2002: “I first became aware of Blogs about a year ago. I noticed a fair number of hits coming to my site from a link at xplane.com/xblog. I went to take a look, as I like to see who’s directing traffic my way... The best way to understand blogs is to take a look at a few of the best blogs. The one referred to above, xplane.com/xblog, calls itself ‘the visual thinking weblog,’ and has a very intuitive architecture and an extensive archive.”
  13. The Washington Post, 17 May 2001: “Some of the most popular blogs are maintained by professionals sharing their takes on particular industries. Journalist Jim Romenesko's clearinghouse for media gossip (www.medianews.org) showed how a personal blog could go pro when the Poynter Institute hired him last year to blog full time. Digital designer Bill Keaggy, 30, maintains two Web logs that he started as internal resources for his employer, a St. Louis design firm. His commentary on visual thinking at www.xplane.com/xblog draws hundreds of visitors daily; others subscribe via e-mail.”
  14. ClickZ, 5 Feb. 2003: “I found out I'm not the only one out there using the term b-blog, proving business blogs are truly coming into their own. XPLANE, for instance, uses the term to describe its Weblog that provides sales, marketing, and business links to articles on leadership, project management, finance, and more. It's an excellent example of how you can build a strong brand for your company by sharing knowledge.”
  15. Online learning magazine, 30 Aug. 2001: “The Internet has provided a wealth of communications technology — email, instant messaging, chat rooms, threaded discussions. Each has found its place in the corporate and academic worlds, as well as in everyday life. But there is a less-known Web communications tool called Web logs (or blogs) that may one day find an application in the corporate world... [Bill] Keaggy has since refined the information he's gathered into two publicly available Web logs, one about business (xplane.com/bblog) and the other about visual design (xplane.com/xblog). 'I'm using the Web log to manage other peoples' knowledge,' Keaggy says. 'And I'm also using it to manage our access to that knowledge.”
  16. ibiznewsletters.com, 29 Nov. 2000: “The publication [xblog] does have an incredible reach, finding interesting links you'd probably never come across on your own. And the links themselves are an eclectic, colorful mix. Some lead to sources of pragmatic advice and insight which any website manager, developer or designer would benefit from. Others have a more creative and artistic flavor, leading to, for example, a collection of 'digital experiments.'”
  17. AstoundingWeb.org, 12 Sep. 2000: “XPLANE is an ideal example of a commercial web development presence done right. They balance their formidable professional offerings with genuine contributions to the web-community-at-large.”
  18. Inc Magazine, 1 Apr. 2004: "If presentations and Web-based communications play a big role in your business strategy, it pays to invest in some expert assistance... XPLANE and other top-notch consultants provide creative services to visualize, animate and communicate your business ideas through cartoons and other visual media. Surf their sites for great ideas, examples and concepts.”


[edit] Possibly helpful links

Visual explanations created by XPLANE

  • School 2.0 (Created for the U.S. Dept. of Education)

http://www.school2-0.org/

  • An Accountable Supply Chain: Pharmaceutical Pedigree (Created for the MIT Auto-ID Center, published by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services)

http://www.hhs.gov/importtaskforce/session2/presentations/AutoIDPedigreeDiagram.pdf

  • Losing Ground (Created for Harper's Magazine, pdf download)

A map showing population and control in Palestine/Israel since 1947 http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2001/promises/harpersmap.pdf

  • The Inbred Rothschild Family (Created for Discover Magazine)

This picture gallery portrays members of five generations of the legendary Rothschild banking family, beginning with founder Mayer Amschel and his wife, Gutle. In an effort to build the fortune he had created, Mayer wrote a will that made intermarriage lucrative for his offspring. http://www.discover.com/issues/aug-03/features/featkiss/

  • Windows Embedded Universe (Created for Microsoft)

A visual depiction of a city, showing where Windows Embedded plays a role. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/universe.mspx

  • E-Business Ecosystem maps (Created for Line56 Magazine, pdf downloads)

Visual maps describing the world of e-business. http://www.line56.com/articles/story_index.asp?StoryType=11

  • The Anheuser-Busch Advertising Gauntlet (Created for Anheuser-Busch)

Shows the process A-B uses to develop advertisements. http://www.beeresponsible.com/gauntlet/js_index.html Print version: http://www.beresponsible.com/gauntlet/gauntlet/print_alt.html

  • Flash vs. Gif (Original content)

Explains the difference between online image formats http://xplane.com/explains/flashvsgif/

Articles

Interviews with Founder Dave Gray

  • New Tools Help Translate Technology (Reid On):

http://reid-on.com/archives/000003.htm

Other

Per the suggestion of other editors I am limiting my contributions to this article's talk page. --Dgray xplane 22:37, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

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