Re: [unrev-II] "Trees of Knowledge" Map vs. DKR Enables Knowledge Mapping?

From: Jack Park (jackpark@verticalnet.com)
Date: Fri Jun 30 2000 - 08:20:52 PDT

  • Next message: Eugene Eric Kim: "Re: [unrev-II] book/article recommendations"

    Wow! This thread is getting longish, and fun. TriVium appears to understand
    the issues. There is more on the Trees of Knowledge at
    http://www.connected.org/learn/levy.html

    What's important, at least to me, is that they center a presentation on a
    single focal point. By way of analogy (which, itself is an absolutely
    necessary feature in any knowledge engine), Doug Lenat's Eurisko program
    used a concept he called *focus of attention* (he wasn't alone -- other AI
    jockeys used that term) as a means of computing the *priority* placed on
    some task on an agenda.

    Now, we're getting to the meat, IMHO, of the matter. We only learn when we
    are interested and we tend to agendize things that are interesting to us,
    leaving the 'c' jobs for later -- perhaps except for those few who are
    compulsive about getting 'c' jobs out of the way. Eurisko's architecture
    applied an agenda and task structure that kept Eurisko working on those
    tasks with highest priority. Each task cycle saw a slight decay in priority
    of all tasks (forgetting), and each task, while being executed, had the
    ability to modify the priority of any task still on the agenda (feedback).
    Thus, it became possible to use *focus of attention* as a means to keep some
    train of thought running for a long time (greatly to the probabilistic
    detriment of those not running). That, of course, explains <gg> why the
    excuse "I forgot" is valid.

    I am saying here that an agenda-based architecture, one with feedback and
    decay mechanisms, comes closest of anything I have seen yet to a
    biologically inspired architecture. My program The Scholar's Companion
    implements just such an architecture <note> not bragging here, just stating
    that I have some experience with this approach </note>. All of which is to
    suggest that it would be really nice to see an English version of the books
    mentioned at TriVium (else I'll have to dust off my 40-year old high school
    French ;-(

    Merge a couple of threads together here and we're liable to have an image of
    the DKR.

    Cheers,
    Jack

    From: John J. Deneen <JJDeneen@ricochet.net>

    > So the following is some interesting info from TriVium.com, relative to
    our design
    > requirments for the DKR to enable knowledge mapping:
    >
    > On 6/15/00 at SRI, after Gil Regev demonstrated his collaborative concept
    mapping
    > applet (http://icapc4.epfl.ch/knowarepub, http://icapc4.epfl.ch/g99space),
    he
    > suggested checking out the "The Trees of Knowledge" technology (i.e.,
    Umap, Seek-K,
    > and Gingo) at TriVium.com based on my comments about Cartia.com Relational
    Topic
    > Mapping (RTM) technology called "ThemeScape."
    > (http://www.cartia.com/products/index.html)
    >
    > Proprietary Technology
    > http://www.trivium.fr/new/techno.htm
    >
    > ...."For information, type "Trees of Knowledge" or "Gingo" (the first
    real-time
    > visualization software for organizational information and competencies) in
    the
    > search engine of your choice. You will then have access to interviews,
    case studies,
    > and the opinions of various members of the Internet community
    (journalists, leaders,
    > citizens, critics, etc.) on the subject. This information is constantly
    updated,
    > given the increasing power of this theory, and its practical applications
    to daily
    > life. Reconnect often to remain up-to-date on the latest developments. For
    a global
    > vision of different opinions, why not make a Umap map of all the
    information?"...
    >
    > The map
    > The Umap map is a mosaic of colored pieces on a uniform background. Each
    of these
    > pieces represents a thesaurus word; each word of the thesaurus finds its
    place in
    > the map.
    >
    > What is the map?
    > Placed between the windows of the thesaurus and the document group (or
    body), the
    > Umap map indicates the relative proximity of thesarus words, beginning
    with their
    > relative significance in each text.
    >
    > Significance of the map
    > By grouping the words in proximity zones (small islands, near-islands,
    concentric
    > layers, etc.), the map offers an intuitive approach to someone familiar
    with the
    > logical topic connections that exist between certain texts.
    >
    > What use is it
    > By spotting common topics within certain texts, one can quickly select the
    texts of
    > interest, or remove those that are momentarily unneeded. ....
    >
    > Why Cartography ?
    > http://www.trivium.fr/new/carto.htm
    >
    > Concept & Ideas
    > What is exactly Knowledge Management and why do companies need KM
    solutions today ?
    > http://www.trivium.fr/new/index_2.htm
    > http://www.trivium.fr/new/gingo/main.htm
    >
    > Rod Welch wrote:
    >
    > > Bill,
    > >
    > > Sorry have not been able to respond sooner.
    > >
    > > The aim of a knowledge management effort, is to map a share of important
    > > connections showing cause and effect that the mind forms when it
    encounters
    > > information during a meeting, looking at a picture, reading a book,
    walking
    > > across the street, i.e., input from sight and sound that constitutes
    human
    > > experience.
    > >
    > > This uses writing in a different way, to set out our personal
    understanding of
    > > the why and wherefore of events. In particular we want to identify our
    mistakes
    > > by checking alignment, and make corrections in small communication
    miscues
    > > before they become big problems. The DKR rigged in a certain way can
    hardwire
    > > the relationships so we can get them back when needed to improve upon
    > > spontaneous impressions. The DKR provides context that leverages the
    value of
    > > information. It enhances research by providing a routine template of
    structure
    > > that extends traditional punctuation and rules of grammar for imparting
    meaning
    > > to information.
    > >
    > > It is not all a bed of roses. When we begin making connections, the
    result
    > > looks confusing to some. Jack and Doug are working on tools to improve
    the
    > > view.
    > >
    > > There is a lot more that can be accomplished with an engine of knowledge
    to
    > > enhance traditional work practices, e.g., reporting, engineering, law,
    medical
    > > practice, accounting, scientific research, etc. In short, the DKR
    provides an
    > > environment and tools (OHS) for getting a share of our knowledge into a
    form
    > > that allows it to be tested for accuracy, and applied consistently,
    promptly
    > > when and if needed. The big distinction between this idea and the
    popular
    > > notion of storing "knowledge" from books, magazines and so on in a
    repository,
    > > is that each of us have a lot of knowledge from our daily experience
    that we
    > > primarily rely upon to do our work and live our lives. This latter body
    of
    > > stuff is what we want to improve, and in doing so, the formal stuff in
    books
    > > will get better also.
    > >
    > > Hope this helps.
    > >
    > > Rod
    > >
    > > Bill Bearden wrote:
    > > >
    > > > Rod,
    > > >
    > > > You bring up an interesting and valid point with which I am currently
    > > > struggling. I have been reading (and trying to understand) some of
    > > > Malhotra's extensions of Churchman, esp.
    > > > http://www.brint.com/members/online/200603/kmhitech/kmhitech.html.
    There,
    > > > Malhotra quotes Churchman:
    > > >
    > > > "To conceive of knowledge as a collection of information seems to rob
    the
    > > > concept of all of its life... Knowledge resides in the user and not
    in the
    > > > collection. It is how the user reacts to a collection of information
    that
    > > > matters."
    > > >
    > > > This sounds very much like what you say.
    > > >
    > > > But if knowledge can not exist outside of the mind, how can a DKR be
    > > > possible? By this definition, neither book nor computer can contain
    > > > knowledge. I believe in the concept of the DKR. Therefore, I can not
    accept
    > > > a definition which fundamentally prevents its existence.
    > > >
    > > > So, with your definition, my previous comment about knowledge being
    > > > everywhere is not valid. But I would guess that your definition
    invalidates
    > > > lots of things that have been discussed.
    > > >
    > > > Bill
    > > >
    > > > > -----Original Message-----
    > > > > From: Rod Welch [mailto:rowelch@attglobal.net]
    > > > > Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 6:57 AM
    > > > > To: unrev-II@egroups.com
    > > > > Subject: [unrev-II] 2020 Hindsight: A Fictional DKR Narrative (long
    > > > > (sorry))
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > Bill,
    > > > >
    > > > > Just, on your comment that "knowledge is generated all the time.
    > > > > It is all
    > > > > around us in books, etc..."
    > > > >
    > > > > My sense is a little different.
    > > > >
    > > > > "Knowledge" resides in the minds of people, and so is constantly
    > > > > being formed
    > > > > out of the information that is all around us in books, TV,
    > > > > meetings, and so on,
    > > > > as an interplay between our experience, and the mental ability to
    form
    > > > > consistent pattersn connections or patterns of cause and effect.
    > > > >
    > > > > Rod
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > Bill Bearden wrote:
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Rod,
    > > > > >
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Bill,
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Very thoughtful illustration you set out in your letter
    > > > > today... <SNIP />
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Thanks.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > <SNIP />
    > > > > >
    > > > > > > ... your open source query
    > > > > > > might be aided
    > > > > > > by explaining how that approach saves time, improves
    productivity, and
    > > > > > > earnings. Those criteria have proven to be good generic
    starting
    > > > > > > points for
    > > > > > > evaluating tools and work methods. ...
    > > > > > <MORE-SNIP />
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I agree that the traditional "value" metrics are useful.
    > > > > However, I question
    > > > > > how well they apply to something truly new. I doubt that
    > > > > electric lights or
    > > > > > telephones were cost effective replacements for existing
    > > > > technology right
    > > > > > when they were introduced. If DKRs ever prove truly useful, it
    > > > > may only be
    > > > > > after there are lots and lots of them hooked together and people
    are
    > > > > > immersed in them as a normal part of their lives. That is a
    > > > > long ways off.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > And anyway, my text was an exercise in speculation as much as
    > > > > anything. It
    > > > > > was just me trying to describe part of a system I see in my
    > > > > head (if I close
    > > > > > my eyes real tight after I've had a couple of beers :-).
    > > > > >
    > > > > > <SNIP-SNIP-SNIP />
    > > > > >
    > > > > > > In the meantime, it turns out that using a keyboard, computer
    > > > > screen, and
    > > > > > > special tools seems to augment human intelligence beyond what
    can
    > > > > > > be expected
    > > > > > > from reliance on voice recognition and pictures, for reasons
    > > > > in the record
    > > > > > > reviewing Andy Grove's book on 980307...
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > >
    http://www.welchco.com/sd/08/00101/02/98/03/07/161449.HTM#L351552
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Generating knowledge is hard work. ...
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Yes, but knowledge is generated all the time. It is all around
    > > > > us. Capturing
    > > > > > it and encoding it so computers can store it and people can
    > > > > learn it is the
    > > > > > problem as I see it. IMO, this process will remain very
    > > > > difficult until we
    > > > > > have more immersive user interfaces. Until then, it *might*
    > > > > make sense to
    > > > > > try and "scrape" knowledge from existing stores (e.g. books,
    databases,
    > > > > > source code, etc). Truly integrated information systems
    > > > > probably yields more
    > > > > > short term bang for the buck. Again, just my speculation.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > > ... But people don't mind hard work, if it
    > > > > > > yields rewards and is fun. Games are an example. People "work"
    > > > > > > awfully hard at
    > > > > > > golf, tennis, running, exercise, and computer games, because
    they
    > > > > > > get immediate
    > > > > > > satisfaction of varying kinds from the experience.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I love the point you make about "work" and games. IMO,
    Csikszentmihalyi
    > > > > > explains fairly well why that is in his book, Flow. I was excited
    to see
    > > > > > Flow mentioned on the L3D philosophy page
    > > > > > (http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~l3d/philosophy.html). L3D
    > > > > (LifeLong Learning &
    > > > > > Design) is the "mother" project of Dynasites, to which John
    > > > > Deneen submitted
    > > > > > a link yesterday.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > <FINAL-SNIP />

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Never lose a file again. Protect yourself from accidental deletes,
    overwrites, and viruses with @Backup.
    Try @Backup it's easy, it's safe, and it's FREE!
    Click here to receive 300 MyPoints just for trying @Backup.
    http://click.egroups.com/1/5669/5/_/444287/_/962378166/
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Community email addresses:
      Post message: unrev-II@onelist.com
      Subscribe: unrev-II-subscribe@onelist.com
      Unsubscribe: unrev-II-unsubscribe@onelist.com
      List owner: unrev-II-owner@onelist.com

    Shortcut URL to this page:
      http://www.onelist.com/community/unrev-II



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 30 2000 - 08:24:46 PDT