Thanks for the suggestion. I actually plan to do that, but even better... the new dictionary is going to be database-driven, and rather than scrolling through an entire page of words to find the word you're looking for, you'll simply type a word into a search box. And the search box will be placed right up front on our homepage.

The database itself will contain not only the dance-related words found in the dictionary now, but also the acronyms, abbreviations, common misspellings, and more. So if you're Canadian and you type Rhumba into the search box, you'll still go to the Rumba page (Just a joke, people... my parents are both Canadian).

And it gets better. Not only will our definitions appear... so will yours. Users will be able to submit their own definitions for words, allowing for a greater variety of perspectives. If you don't like our definition of CBM, you can write one that you think is more accurate. A user-based ratings system will ensure that the most popular and widely accepted definitions appear first.

To get the most out of the search, I also plan to combine the dictionary database and the dancetalk database into one. So if a search for a specific word doesn't come up as a dictionary definition, you might still find something in the discussion forums. And it will all come up in just one search.

All of this means that I have a very large job ahead of me. I'm creating one database schema to handle everything from the dictionary to the message board, from online help files to our learning center articles. It's taking a very long time to produce. But I guarantee it will completely re-define this website, and I'm sure you'll like the results.

The first thing on my list is programming the message board, and that's what I'm in the process of doing now. So you won't get to see the new dictionary until after the new message board has been completed. That in itself may not happen until early in the new year. But you will know it's happening because I'm going to have to contact all of the DanceTalk users and alert them to the changes. When the DanceTalk database is consolidated with the BDC Users' database, many people will end up with two user accounts and will have to combine them. I suspect, unfortunately, that there may also be a couple of users who will be forced to come up with a new username, if there is a conflict. But I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I'm very excited about the new plans. I only wish I could get it out to you sooner!

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com