Abstract: The present invention affords an information system that is simple to use, can be queried in a user-friendly manner, is capable of searching multiple resources in parallel to effect an efficient search, presents diverse information in an easy-to-comprehend format, and allows rapid and intuitive navigation among high-quality contextual information. The invention allows a user to enter a simple query, search all available resources in parallel (or alternatively select only those resources of interest), and navigate among the search results using an intuitive user-interface to develop an action plan based on the resulting information. As a result, a user takes information from several sources and turns that information into action-oriented knowledge that can be applied to solve a particular problem. The amount of information available is secondary to the quality and relevance of the information and how readily it can be synthesized as knowledge by the user.