11 replies to this topic

[frax]

Hi friends,

Since some of the world's sharpest and friendliest people are active on this board, I thought that maybe you could give me assistance for a little thing - I think you would find this fun as well.

In short - me and my colleagues need assistance with coming up with a new name for an interactive Internet map server/database on global environmental issues, with teens as the main target group. The service is currently called "Globalis", and is available here http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/

I don't have anything to fancy to offer, but I promise to buy the winner a drink or two whenever we bump into each other (I won't be at this year's NACIS). In addition, I can offer a link on the revised "about page" with full credit. Since we are ranking reasonably high, that could be quite a carrot if you have your own website that you need to promote (it will increase the pagerank etc).

The name should not be too kids-oriented (since I am not too keen on it, and it scares off other users), it should reflect that the service deals with environmental issues, should be easily googlable (unique), and the domains (biggest TLDs) should be available to buy. It doesn't need to have anything map related in the name, since the map is only a part of the experience.

Here is the long version...

We have been operating this web-site/database/service since 2004 something, together with the Norwegian UN Association and a smaller University College in Norway. It has emerged as the most popular website at my office, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, by far.

Currently the site presents an interactive map and a database of country indicator statistics (more than 200 for various sources) and a set of thematic map layers (raster images). The themes are focused on environment and sustainable development. The map interface, powered by Adobe ColdFusion and ESRI ArcIMS, is just one mean to access the database.

Anyways - as you might notice, the web design is not totally super cool, and the javascript and alignment is not working 100% in modern browsers, among other things - and in addition the URL is buried in the unrelated UN University domain (unu.edu). The Norwegian UN Association have continued to improve the Norwegian version of Globalis, and we have decided that we should split and refocus our different services - and as a part of that we are rebranding "our" English version of Globalis, redesigning/overhauling the userinterface and we are also going to experiment with sponsorship/ads - since we need some funds to be able to run this service. In addition we are going to remove a lot of existing indicators (and add more new ones) to have it more tightly focused on environmental issues.

Anyone?

[Hans van der Maarel]

As a general remark, maybe it's better to respond to Hugo in a PM (since Google indexes these pages too and we don't want to encourage domain squatters, now do we?).

I think finding a domain name which is still available in the big TLD's is going to be quite difficult, what with environment and climate change being such a hot issue (doh) lately.

[frax]

I'm actually not too afraid of squatters - and I can buy the domain (if there is a good suggestion) quite quickly - the problem is more that squatters are already sitting on some of the good names that we have brainstormed up!

And, yes, it is not easy to come up with a name - we have had a lot of good suggestions, but they are often already taken by consultancies or as brand names...

[MapMedia]

Excellent venture - a valuable site for teens.

Why don't u start off the brainstorming with your list of unavailable site names - just for reference.

Also - which teens are you targeting? English speaking or bi-lingual Europeans and US/UK?

[Hans van der Maarel]

SecondEnvironment.com is still available... (taking the MySpace/SecondLife angle)

[Caledon_Carto]

How about touchmyenvironment.com or touchmyearth.com or touchyourplanet.com

a starter for 10.

A fine Malt whisky would do.

slainte

[frax]

Friends,

Thanks for your input - I will take that into consideration, but I also found a good candidate for a name from a colleague. I will keep you posted.

Right now I have other things to think about - me and my wife just became parents!

[DaveB]

Right now I have other things to think about - me and my wife just became parents!

Right now and for the next 18-24 years plus.
Congratulations!

[Hans van der Maarel]

Hugo,

Congratulations! I hope mother and baby (and you of course!) are doing well.

[MapMedia]

Yes, congratulations Frax to you and your new family.

[mike]

hugo, congratulations!

i'm sure picking the right name for your newborn will be just as exciting!

how about something simple like myGlobalis.com? "globalis" is a unique name and doing a google search, it already shows as first link. registering myglobalis and having it related to your current site will probably ensure a top 5 link location on google.

[Matthew Hampton]

Congrats on the new addition to the Ahlenius family - I hope all is well and healthy.

Frankly, "Globalis" reminds me of Cialis which reminds me of, well, nevermind....

How 'bout PlanetGrid.