adding back some of the plainer language description after Jamie R's

technical additions.

diff --git a/website/index.mdwn b/website/index.mdwn
index f7f9c06ab4fd5197319979ead4d82ab36faeeec9..d7892c88c1276ed87895193ff2ce63b505e97ee2 100644 (file)
--- a/website/index.mdwn
+++ b/website/index.mdwn
@@ -1,33 +1,44 @@
-Monkeysphere is a framework to leverage the OpenPGP web of trust for
-OpenSSH authentication.  OpenPGP keys are tracked via GnuPG, and added
-to the authorized\_keys and known\_hosts files used by OpenSSH for
-connection authentication.
+The Monkeysphere project's goal is to extend the web of trust model and other
+features of OpenPGP to other areas of the Internet to help us securely identify
+each other while we work online.
+
+Specifically, the Monkeysphere is a framework to leverage the OpenPGP web of
+trust for OpenSSH authentication. In other words, it allows you to use your
+OpenPGP keys when using secure shell to both identify yourself and the servers
+you administer or connect to.  OpenPGP keys are tracked via GnuPG, and added to
+the authorized\_keys and known\_hosts files used by OpenSSH for connection
+authentication.
 
 [[bugs]] | [[download]] | [[news]] | [[documentation|doc]]
 
 ## Conceptual overview ##
 
-[OpenSSH](http://openssh.com/) provides a functional way for
-management of explicit RSA and DSA keys (without any type of [Public
-Key Infrastructure
-(PKI)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Key_Infrastructure)). The
-basic idea of this project is to create a framework that uses
-[GnuPG](http://www.gnupg.org/)'s keyring manipulation capabilities and
-public keyservers to generate files that OpenSSH will accept and
-handle as intended.  This offers users of OpenSSH an effective PKI,
-including the possibility for key transitions, transitive
-identifications, revocations, and expirations.  It also actively
-invites broader participation in the
+Everyone who has used secure shell is familiar with the prompt given the first
+time you login, asking if you want to trust the server's fingerprint.  In
+addition, many of us take advantage of OpenSSH's ability to use RSA or DSA keys
+for authenticating to a server, rather than relying on a password exchange.
+
+[OpenSSH](http://openssh.com/) already provides a functional way for managing
+the RSA and DSA keys required for these interactions. However, it lacks any
+type of [Public Key Infrastructure
+(PKI)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Key_Infrastructure).
+
+The basic idea of the Monkeysphere is to create a framework that uses
+[GnuPG](http://www.gnupg.org/)'s keyring manipulation capabilities and public
+keyservers to generate files that OpenSSH will accept and handle as intended.
+
+This offers users of OpenSSH an effective PKI, including the possibility for
+key transitions, transitive identifications, revocations, and expirations.  It
+also actively invites broader participation in the
 [OpenPGP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openpgp) [web of
 trust](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_of_trust).
 
-Under the Monkeysphere, both parties to an OpenSSH connection (client
-and server) have a responsibility to explicitly designate who they
-trust to certify the identity of the other party.  This trust
-designation is explicitly indicated with traditional GPG keyring trust
-model.  No modification is made to the SSH protocol on the wire (it
-continues to use raw RSA public keys), and it should work with
-unpatched OpenSSH software.
+Under the Monkeysphere, both parties to an OpenSSH connection (client and
+server) have a responsibility to explicitly designate who they trust to certify
+the identity of the other party. This trust designation is explicitly indicated
+with traditional GPG keyring trust model. No modification is made to the SSH
+protocol on the wire (it continues to use raw RSA public keys), and it should
+work with unpatched OpenSSH software.
 
 Monkeysphere does not modify ssh in any way, and ssh can be used "out
 of the box".  Monkeysphere is a set of tools that manages keys in the
@@ -57,7 +68,7 @@ Fortunately, with online communications we have easy access to tools
 that can help us navigate these problems.
 [OpenPGP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openpgp) (a cryptographic
 protocol commonly used for sending signed and encrypted email
-messagess) is one such tool. In its simplest form, it allows us to
+messages) is one such tool. In its simplest form, it allows us to
 sign our communication in such a way that the recipient can verify the
 sender.