“Web-Based Conceptual Portmanteau” is an internet based expression of meaning that relies on web-based technologies to present a claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet with at least two of the following features as inherent to the text structure: 

• embedded definitions, which are inextricably attached to the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet.
• variant phrases of similar/different registers, including registers of different reading levels and technical registers which use jargon, which are inextricably attached to the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet. Various phrasings of similar register, but substituted words, is also a feature.
• the expression of meaning shown visually through images, giphys, or other graphics referenced from external sources, which are inextricably attached to the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet. Formats include: JPEG, TIFF, GIF, BMP, PNG, WebP, SVG, and others.
• the expression of meaning shown visually through videos referenced from external sources, which are inextricably attached to the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet (video with audio does not count as two distinct features). Formats include: MP4, MOV, MKV, and others. 
• the expression of meaning articulated through audio referenced from external sources, which are inextricably attached to the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet (audio with video does not count as two distinct features). Formats include: MP3, WAV, AIFF, AU, PCM, and others. 
• contextual explainer paragraphs which provide more broad context of the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet itself or its connection with adjacent content. 

It is encouraged, but not required, that “web-based conceptual portmanteau” contain source meta-data for any content that is combined with the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet as a standard. The ‘physical’ connection of these features can be expressed through buttons, badges, hyperlinks, or other similar visual indicators on, in, or adjacent to the claim, argument, sentence, or text snippet. 

“Web-based conceptual portmanteau” was invented in order to convey the more precise meaning of claims, arguments, text snippets, and sentences for the purpose of enabling comprehension and understanding in an educational context. 

We believe that the future of text includes a compound, multi-media representation of a claim which may be expressed as features in a package, such as our “node” structure. Text is two dimensional, but with the capabilities enabled by web-based technologies, the future of text can be multidimensional. 

The Future of Text || – Future Text Publishing

Embedded Definitions

Variant Phrases of Similar/Different Registers

The Expression of Meaning Shown Visually Through Images

The Expression of Meaning Shown Visually Through Videos

The Expression of Meaning Articulated Through Audio

Contextual Explainer Paragraphs

Image credit: The Future of Text || – Future Text Publishing

Show, Don’t Tell

They wrote up a case study that goes into more depth, but I want to highlight how the informational scrolling pages they built (nicknamed “scrollytelling”) quite literally highlights the important information, providing relevant linked content to learn more, add citations, or inject some additional personality. The pages blend embedded interactive content to engage you as a reader, video, images, and text. It’s a compelling way to present Warren’s story.

Next time you make something new, think about the different ways you can show, not tell, information to your audience.

Show, Don’t Tell | CSS-Tricks – CSS-Tricks

Nutshell: Make Expandable, Embeddable Explanations

Nutshell is a tool to make “expandable, embeddable explanations”

Nutshell: make expandable, embeddable explanations

But why not links? Well, unlike links, Nutshell lets you include only the snippet you need, not the whole page. And instead of a jungle of new tabs, your reader stays on one page, keeping their flow of reading. Even if you interrupt a sentence, Nutshell recaps the sentence afterwards, so your reader never loses context.

But wait, there’s more! It’s not just text & pictures you can embed! You can also embed interactive playthings, YouTube videos, and – hey, why not – Wikipedia articles. (That includes other languages and Simple Wikipedia, too!)

Nutshell: make expandable, embeddable explanations

…the inventor Ted Nelson proposed something called StretchText. The idea was this: you’re reading an article at a high-level, but can “stretch” sentences into more detail. Then you can stretch that detail into more detail, and so on, while everything stays in one continuous context.

(See its original 1967 design document, and Nelson showing it off in a Werner Herzog documentary)

Since then, the idea’s been re-discovered a few times. In 2008, a viral website named Telescopic Text let you stretch “I made tea” into a short story. In 2018, Wikipedia added a “hover to preview article” feature. (more StretchText-likes)

And now, in 2022, I give you Nutshell! My main value-add, compared to previous StretchText-likes, is that you can embed snippets from other websites & authors, even stuff written long ago. That way, we can build upon each others’ explanations.

Nutshell: make expandable, embeddable explanations

Show Then Tell

1. show what made you care
2. show then tell

New talk! “How To Explain Things Real Good”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:05 Tricks over Theory
• 02:51 1) Show what made you care
• 05:05 2) Show, then tell
• 08:03 3) Therefore & But, not And Then
• 12:25 4) Write a draft, cut 10%
• 12:47 5) Do real tests, early & often
• 15:24 Conclusion
• 16:37 Credits

How To Explain Things Real Good (Stanford mini-talk)

Further reading,

Introducing the Gutenberg Interactive Fiction Engine – ArtemioSans

Enjoy our interactive exhibit – MOBA