Did you know gorillas burp when they’re happy? Or, that 99% of people can’t lick their elbows, but 90% of people who read this will try?! We learned these and 300 other wacky facts while developing the Weird But True universal iOS app for National Geographic, which launched in the iTunes App Store this week.

Mission Data collaborated with the National Geographic team to ensure that the interactive experience on each device was rich and engaging. The app is based on the popular feature in National Geographic Kids magazine and best-selling books franchise, Weird But True. Sound effects add to the fun and  surprise when users swipe or shake to find what is Weird But True. Rate the level of “weirdness” from Duh! to Totally Outrageous and see the results from all users on the Top 10 list. Bookmark favorites or share with friends via email. Use the Fact Finder to search for favorite subjects—animals, weather, space, science, and more.

Download from the iTunes App Store for 300 Weird But True facts that will educate and entertain you regardless of your age. We’re excited to see it quickly move up into the top 50 paid apps.

Screenshot of the Library Foundation website

Given the number of bookstores shelving business these days, the fate of the printed word appears to be in a precarious state.  Some doomsayers would even say the destiny of one of mankind’s greatest inventions is on a slippery slope towards demise. Despite our current recession within this era of fast lifestyles, small attention spans, and mobile technology, there are institutions progressing with the times and stand proud, staring that “demise” down with a look of defiance. Where, you must be asking yourself, do these heroes of literary salvation reside? You need only look down the road to your local library. And, here in Louisville, we happen to have a library that is a card-carrying member of “The Justice League.”

Who Are They and What Do They Do?

The Louisville Free Public Library was established in 1870 when a group of progressive individuals decided to create a public institution for information and enjoyment where anyone could borrow books free of charge. To maintain such long and successful existence is only possible with the contributions from countless individuals and organizations. Enter the Library Foundation.

The Library Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization governed by an independent volunteer board of directors, was established in 1980 to benefit, promote, support, encourage, and enhance the programs and services of the Louisville Free Public Library. They solicit, receive, and acquire donations of public or private funds on behalf of the Louisville Free Public Library and serve as the fiscal agent on behalf of the library for grants and donations.

As public libraries are increasingly constrained by municipal budgets, private funding for public libraries is critically important, as it helps to:

• result in change, making possible experimentation, innovation, and adaptation of roles to changing needs;
• provide the margin of excellence that makes good libraries great libraries;
• provide the opportunity to leverage public dollars;
• spur collaborations and partnerships; and
• create a higher level of responsiveness to needs and opportunities.

Through private donations to the Library Foundation, the Louisville Free Public Library has been able to provide programs and services and to pursue capital projects that would not be possible otherwise. Private funding is responsible for:

• the Iroquois Project, an outreach program targeted to the immigrant community in South Louisville;
• the Digital Media Initiative, providing the library with thousands of CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks;
• the Technology 2000 campaign, providing the library with hundreds of public-access computers, software, and electronic research tools;
• the Job Shop, offering a wide range of resources to help unemployed or under-employed people find work;
• the Summer Reading program, the library’s largest and longest-running program, reaching more than 50,000 annually;
• upgraded furnishings and technology for the new Newburg branch library;
• restoration and renovation of the historic Main Library, which made possible highly successful partnerships with JCPS adult education and the University of Louisville;
• scholarships for library employees; and
• supplemental funding for the cost of taking the GED.

Operating within a governmental context can be slow and cumbersome – and usually is. Private gifts to the Library Foundation enable the library to be “nimble,” to take advantage of strategic opportunities as they arise, whether expected or unexpected. Government is risk-averse and generally preserves the status quo. Private funding allows library leadership to be bold and responsive and to pursue experimentation and change.

How Mission Data Helped

Looking to further explore avenues of growth and change while creating a stronger community, one that creates name and face relationships (not just between patrons and the library, but with other patrons as well), the Library Foundation came to Mission Data with an expanded vision and a consistently high level of enthusiasm to help their community succeed in its endeavors.

As evidenced by the aftermath from a sudden flash flood in 2009, and the subsequent outpouring of local support and sentiment, there’s a personal interest for the many patrons who fill the library day in and day out in maintaining and improving its facilities, offerings, and events through contributions. The direct result for them? Visible, physical, and participatory returns on their investment – something that many donors in other capacities may not see. Their donations personally affect a positive outcome and they are, ultimately, doing something good through their donations.

The Library Foundation’s level of commitment and enthusiasm for their cause is infectious, and we were no exception. Focused on creating a sustained audience reach and engagement level, Mission Data’s designer and developers worked in-tandem to take on the challenges ahead while taking on the Library Foundation’s cause as their own! Go to the Library Foundation’s site now and you’ll see the result of various discussions between the designer, developers and client to create a more interactive and information-rich Library Foundation web presence and utilization of the social web. The site’s design is based almost entirely on that which has so strongly defined the library since its inception: being about and for the people. Where once was a site that existed strictly “for informational purposes only” now stands an online avenue for event promotion and registration, news promotion, online donation collection, and continuously-evolving social interaction. The ongoing results of our coordinated efforts will lead to increased donations, increased community interest and engagement, and, ultimately, continuously-improving offerings and services that last well into the future.

In a time when we ARE experiencing an economic downturn and hardships, libraries are actually SPURRING economic investment thanks to available resources, helping people find jobs, and providing budget-friendly education and entertainment options for individuals and families where many places are not. So, to the doomsayers out there, the Library Foundation has something to say to you. When the dust clears, it may be the book worms that fare the best of all.

For more information, visit the Library Foundation or contact them online, by phone (502-574-1654) or by 
fax (502-574-1734). And, if you’re feeling especially generous, please take a moment to read this article and then donate to, what we feel, is one of the best types of causes.

Screen capture of the Intrepid Bioinformatics website.

Ok, bad paraphrasing aside, for one moment, put on your best “Gordon Gekko” suit, and loosely consider this:

In finance, a portfolio is a collection of investments held by an institution or an individual. Holding a portfolio is a part of an investment and risk-limiting strategy called diversification – by owning several assets, or “things with value”, certain types of risk can be reduced. In building up an investment portfolio, a financial institution will typically conduct investment analysis, while a private individual may make use of a financial advisor/institution’s portfolio management services.

Now ask yourself this – what if there were a way to do this with, oh I don’t know: your genetic data? Enter Intrepid Bioinformatics.

Intrepid’s founders had a vision, one of a heterogenous genetic data management platform that would allow researchers to store, compare, and contextualize genetic trends, as well as purchase reagents and consumables, all in one place. With a newly-designed identity by Katie Bush Design, Inc. in hand, Intrepid and their team came to Mission Data looking to take this concept out of the futuristic conversational realm and bring it into the “now”.

What Does It Do?

A “software-as-a-service” platform allows genetic researchers to compare similar data sets from thousands of samples side-by-side. With Intrepid, a researcher can begin to quickly identify trends in entire populations which will have the potential to quickly advance discoveries in the medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology industries. From free trials to rich-access subscriber plans, users are presented with an impressive load of features right out of the gate – multiple upload options, data downloading, user tutorials, and active collaboration between other community members of your choice, to name a few.

Who’s Using It?

Intrepid appeals to the genetic research community in two sectors: human genome research and animal (specifically, bovine) research. The markets for these two segments are vastly different, and the audience can be further segmented into researchers working for larger companies/governments/universities vs. researchers in small, relatively unfunded labs.

Take, for example, a cattle farmer. He or she obviously has a vested interest in ensuring that their clients are receiving the best product possible, be it milk, beef, etc. By using Intrepid’s services, they can access a wealth of genetic data that will help them determine which lines of cattle are best suited for those assorted purposes. And, which lines they might want to avoid because of a predilection for disease.

That’s not to say those are the only audience contingents that Intrepid is looking to pull into their community. On the contrary, a day on the horizon can be seen in which members of the public can look to utilize Intrepid Bioinformatics’ services like a digital genetic bank, safely and securely storing their data with constant and “at-will” access.

Our team at Mission Data constantly look to push and redefine the boundaries of what is thought possible and conventional in the realm of the web. And, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that if we can eliminate boundaries and make the ideas of the future happen while partnering with great clients, then the ride is made all the better. This was certainly the case here.

To further paraphrase Gordon Gekko: “It’s all about the ‘now’, kid. The rest is just conversation.”

Although we’re not surgeons (or robots) here at Mission Data, we have been honored to assist The Thoracic Surgical Specialists at Baptist Healthcare in staying ahead of the curve for their patients. We don’t have the chops to help them in surgery, but we were able to hook them up with a new website: http://www.thoracicsurgicalspecialists.com/ to promote all of their hard work.  Now patients and physicians have a resource for thoracic conditions and treatments as well as the ability to make appointments and prepare for their visits.

The first doctors in Louisville, KY, to perform a pulmonary lobectomy (one of the most popular lung cancer treatments) utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System®, the Thoracic Surgical Specialists have 30 years of experience and lots of awards too. We hope most people don’t have the need for their services, but if and when they do, they can now find out more about their great practice online.

Screen capture of the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts Website

Ask someone off the street to give you a definition for “the arts.” Go ahead – we’ll give you time.

Oh, and while you’re out there, why don’t you ask someone else the same thing? And then, just for the sake of research, ask one or two more. Now, if we had to guess, we’d be willing to bet that not one answer you received was the same as the next. That’s because, for many, the concept of “the arts” is not easily agreed upon.

Well, in Kentucky and beyond, one thing IS agreed upon – you get a wonderful arts experience at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. Long defining themselves as the home to many of the city’s major arts organizations, The Kentucky Center has worked tirelessly to bring the finest in music, dance, theater and more to the commonwealth of Kentucky and to ensure the performing arts are constantly presented with the highest respect possible. Looking to create an online existence that aligned itself with the magical qualities and emotional experiences that their patrons receive, the Kentucky Center came to us, and Mission Data relished the opportunity to partner up.

Utilizing actual on-site artwork by world-renowned artists such as Alexander Calder, Joàn Miro, and Jean Dubuffet, along with access to a wide variety of compelling imagery and show art, Mission Data sought to create a visually-impacting presence as soon as you land. Providing instant and easy entry to items such as ticket purchasing, show information, multimedia, and box office calendars resulted in more opportunities to learn in-depth about the shows patrons will be attending, as well as some of the great community outreach programs and education support that the Kentucky Center has embraced. For long-time users of the site, a new feature gives show-goers the opportunity to pick their own seats, allowing for an experience that’s even more tailor-made to their liking. All of this and so much more combines into a one-stop, one-of-a-kind web experience that we hope jump-starts the glimmer of excitement in each patron of the Kentucky Center.

Ok, back to the earlier, “definition of ‘the arts’ thing” – bet you thought we forgot about that. One resource, Britannica Online, defines art as “the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” And there were so many different definitions, even internally at Mission Data, that we couldn’t possibly list them all here for fear of pitch-fork-n-torch mobs. But, with their stages overflowing with magnificent entertainment almost every night of the year, and now a new web presence to match? We DID agree, and we think everyone else will, as well – no matter how you define it, the arts are alive and well at the Kentucky Center!

What if, instead of building in nature, we built as nature does?  The launch of tREeGENERATION introduces a competition in regenerative design for the amateur and professional.  Each entrant is challenged with proposing a tree-house design that inspires a greener future.  The projects have comments and the ability to “like” what a team has done.  The public is also able to view the projects in a gallery, vote on them, make donations and register.

Bernheim Arboretum partnered with Mission Data for the design and development of the web application from the ground up.  Cascadia and the U.S. Green Building Council are raising awareness through their partnership and dedication to the Living Building challenge.

The recently launched Figment.com, an experiment in 21st century literature developed by Mission Data. An online community of young authors (and the young at heart), Figment users can read and write fiction and follow well-known veteran authors as well as aspiring young writers. The term “social network” is being lobbed; we all know what that is. But Figment’s different: the community revolves around the works themselves, not just the people who write them. Writings have comments and reviews, a way to “like” something another person wrote (we call it “heart”), and a way to tell the author how the work made you feel. As stories are updated, chapters created, and poems expanded, you can follow right along in real time on your desktop browser or mobile device.

The site has been featured in the New York Times, ParentDish and BigThink – We think it’s really special, and we’re proud to be on the Figment team.

In addition to capturing some basic information from participants, the sweepstakes require entrants to also share the contest with their online networks via Twitter or Facebook. We’ve made this very easy for users by implementing sharing features right into the signup process. The contest ends November 15th, so enter for your chance to win and to sign up for Tasting Table’s free daily epicurean email.

Visit Sweepstakes

We have been fortunate to get to know members of the Olmstead family.  Over the past year they have been inundated with calls from supporters and those interested in finding out how they can help.  It was time The Chuck Olmstead Memorial Fund had an informational website to which the Olmstead family could direct supporters regarding events, resources and donations.

We were honored to design and build a platform for the fund: http://chuckolmsteadfund.com/ that provided for simple and clean navigation for the diverse population of likely visitors.  The website features a multitude of information along with an event calendar, resource videos, a contact form, and a portal for donations.

The site launched in time to accept donations for two successful telethons (which raised over $40,000 dollars) and a memorial walk in Louisville!

Please visit the site to keep up-to-date on the progress of the Olmstead family’s mission in fighting this disease for others.  Please mark your calendars and join the Olmstead’s in support of the Fund as there will be a race in honor of Chuck at Churchill Downs on May 15, 2010.  Mission Data will certainly be there!

Our work with KAR led to a request for Mission Data to present at their annual convention and expo. Todd Budnikas, Creative Director for Mission Data and Marvin Chartoff, VP of Managed Services gave a talk about Website Trends and Design Strategies. We were honored to have the opportunity to speak to realtors about strategies they can use to attract more business and influence their existing clients. Realtors are in a competitive space, the use of the web, social media and mobile devices is critical to conducting and attracting business.