Guide

Brainstorm with the crew

The conversation is where most ideas take shape. Nova leads, the experts add their views, and anything worth keeping is recorded against the idea.

Send a message

Write in the message field. Enter sends; Shift and Enter adds a new line.
One clear request per message works best. Say what you want back.
While the crew is answering, Stop replaces Send. Stopping keeps whatever answer has arrived so far.
You can keep typing while an answer runs. Your next message waits in a queue and is sent after the current answer.
Capture copies text you highlight in the conversation into your message, without sending it.
Attach files with the attachment button. They go into the scenario's Vault, pass a security check, then join the conversation.

Answer modes

Choose how the crew answers

The switch is in the chat toolbar. You can change it before any message.

person

Nova only

One voice. Nova answers, drawing on the crew. Quickest to read.

merge

Synthesis

The experts answer, then Nova sums up. You can open each expert's own answer.

groups

Roundtable

Every expert answers in their own message, with their name. Best when you want to hear the disagreements.

Style, also in the toolbar, sets the format, length and tone of every answer.

Options and recommendations

Cards wait for you

When the crew offers choices or recommends something, it appears as a card under the answer. Nothing is decided until you act on it.

Choose an option to record your answer.
Agree with a recommendation to record it as a direction.
Run action when Nova can finish the work from what is already known.
Plan action when the work needs something new first: a test, a measurement, time, permission or a professional's input. It becomes an open action.
Or leave the card and ask about it in your next message. A new message does not answer or close a card.

A card you have already answered is not shown again unless the Idea has changed since.

The side panel

What has been recorded

Open the panel beside the conversation to see the brief the crew is working from and everything recorded so far.

Brief	The summary of the scenario the conversation uses.
Participants	Nova and the seated experts. Expand an expert to see what they can do.
Decisions	Directions you have recorded.
Open actions	Work still to do.
Parking lot	Ideas set aside for later.
Nova suggests	Suggestions Nova has recorded. Opening one changes nothing.
Chat recommendations	Recommendations from the conversation, with their own controls.

The experts

Who is in the crew

A new scenario seats the experts that best match your idea. Each shows a short reason for being there. You can also pick them yourself in the New scenario wizard.
How many experts a scenario can seat, and whether you can change them after the start, depends on your membership.
Find an expert searches the expert library for a better match. Seating one updates the crew straight away.
An expert's icon opens a private conversation with that expert alone.

Research in answers

When Nova uses research you have attached, the answer keeps a source chip. Open it to see the research behind the answer. See Research and sources.

Scenario Director in the conversation

When Scenario Director works on a scenario, its questions appear in the conversation, labelled Scenario Director. A question it needs you to answer says so, and your answer appears under it. See Scenario Director.

Share a scenario

The people icon beside the scenario name opens Shared access. Share by email address, with an end date. The person you share with can read the scenario but not change it, and you can end their access at any time.

Remember

An answer is advice to review, not a decision. Check its reasoning, then record what you accept through the cards or the Idea.