Thread by @swardley

X : Can you have feedback loops on maps?
Me : Sure. Why not?
X : Example?
Me : Ok, a completely made up example just for you - onlinewardleymaps.com/#RKlCASwJsBMdP…

X : Climate change is a model, solar power is a thing ... how do you mix the two.
Me : Remember this table. The x-axis are labels for stage I to IV ...

Me : So, for example ... I can pick a different axis. In this case, the axis of knowledge - onlinewardleymaps.com/#RKlCASwJsBMdP… ... it's the same thing. All stage I to IV, just different labels.

X : When do you use that?
Me : Personally? When mapping out scientific knowledge. It's useful to know the relationships between components of knowledge and what supports what but also to know how evolved the components of knowledge are. Did you think all science is the same?

Me : Science is a chain of components as much as ethical values in a collective are or the supply chain in an economic system. You can map them all if you wish to do so.
X : Why don't people do this?
Me : Why didn't Vikings use maps before they had sun stones and maps?

X : I'm not sure I follow.
Me : Before Vikings had sun stones and maps they used epic tales for navigation (i.e. stories). We're in the story phase of economics, politics and scientific knowledge. We're only just starting to learn how to map.

X : How do you know if your map is right?
Me : It's about communication. This is super quick map (it took 14 minutes) on electricity generation. It's very imperfect but it invites discussion, it allows others to add missing components, feedback loops - onlinewardleymaps.com/#pve4dt3NvMlS4…

Me : From the map, I can assert that the focus and most effort should probably be on solar / wind plus storage and increasing understanding of supply chains whereas carbon capture should play second fiddle.
X : How do you know if that's right?
Me : Not the point ...

Me : ... someone else can take the map and say I'm missing insulation (and given that it is a highly industrialised industry then it's probably a really cheap option) etc. The point is the discussion and this can be done very rapidly. Much harder to do with stories.

X : You're missing a link between ...
Me : ... bingo! We're off to the races. I got a group of brexiteers and remainers who couldn't stand each other and would constantly fight over whose story was right to talk to each other through the medium of maps. Don't underestimate this.

X : Have you seen the map in the Net Zero report?
Me : Really.
X : There you go.
Me : Ah. That's a graph not a map. It's ok but not a great deal of use in focusing on a changing landscape. You really need to use a map. Still, it's better than nothing.

X : I don't understand.
Me : With a map, space has meaning. In a graph, it doesn't. If you're trying to understand a landscape (physical, economic, political, business, technological or social) then understanding space is really important.

X : Is there a reason the lines don't have arrows?
Me : Limitation of the tool ... or more importantly I haven't found out how to do that on the tool ... these were quick examples. I'm sure the tool will develop further as people explore mapping.

X : Carbon capture should be two columns to the left.
Me : Bingo ... that's the point of maps. Sharing knowledge in a common framework and discussion about the space.

X : I'm not sure I understand the point of evolution on this?
Me : Ok, take renewable energy. Do you think tidal, wind and solar power are all equally evolved? Those things which are not well evolved (i.e. carbon capture) are inherently going to be more costly and risky.

Me : It's a bit like spaceflght and this is a map that was used in NASA's carbon mapper project. You need to think about how evolved components are and what you can shift to effectively manage something. Same with climate change.