The Growing Universe of Knowledge

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The Growing Universe of Knowledge Networking
Scenarios
Dr. H. K. Kaul Director, DELNET hkkaul_at_gmail.com
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Oxford English Dictionary defines knowledge as
Expertise, and skills acquired by a person
through experience or
education the theoretical or practical
understanding of a subject What is known in a
particular field or in total facts and
information Awareness or familiarity gained by
experience of a fact or situation. Philosophical
debates in general start with Plato's formulation
of knowledge as justified true belief
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Classification of Knowledge
Tacit Knowledge Explicit Knowledge
Knowledge codified as information Knowledge
embodied in physical artifacts
Venzin, Krogh and Roos
Tacit Knowledge Embodied Knowledge Encoded
Knowledge Embedded Knowledge Event
Knowledge Procedural Knowledge
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Networking of Knowledge
The five factors that matter
The Universe of Tacit Knowledge in the Minds of
People/Experts The Universe of Explicit
Knowledge Already Available in All Forms The
Universe of Knowledge Required by People Could
be Unlimited The Universe of Untapped Knowledge
Could be Infinite Networking - The Universe of
Complex Interactions Between Tacit, Explicit and
the Unlimited Knowledge Needs of People
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The Universe of Complex Interactions Between
Tacit, Explicit and the Unlimited Knowledge
Needs of People
The Universe of Untapped Knowledge
The Universe of Tacit Knowledge
The Universe of Knowledge Required by People
Could be Unlimited
The Universe of Explicit Knowledge
Already Available in All Forms
Codified/ Encapsulated Knowledge
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The Universe of Tacit Knowledge
Knowledge which is stored in the minds of
people Beliefs, culture, experience, habits,
heuristics and norms and practices No limit to
the imagination of an individual.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) said Imagination
is everything. It is the preview of lifes coming
attractions.
The Universe of Explicit Knowledge The Universe
of Knowledge Requirements of People The Universe
of Untapped Knowledge
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Components of the Universe of Knowledge

• Characteristics of the Universe of Knowledge
• Characteristics of segments in the Universe of
  Knowledge
• Characteristics of subjects
• Interaction within the subjects

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Characteristics of the Universe of Knowledge

• Universe of knowledge is composed of segements
  which are separated by space
• This universe is continuous, infinite,
  multidimensional, dynamic and expanding in all
  directions.
• Action is its important component. As a result,
  segments go on expandingSpeed will vary from
  segment to segment
• Some segments may split into more segments, some
  may unite together to create new segments, thus
  creating clusters

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Characteristics of Segments
Singular segments Unifocal One subject
e.g. Physics Bifocal Parts of two subjects
e.g. Bioengineering Multifocal
Several subjects e.g. Medical
biochemistry Binary segment Closely
linked subjects e.g. Science and
Technology Cluster segment Different subjects
e.g. Physical Sciences Cyclopaedic
segment All subjects e.g.
Encyclopaedia Affinitive segment
Affinities with other subjects e.g.
Librarianship Comprehensive segment All
aspects e.g. Dictionary
of a subject Form-based segment Form based
tendencies e.g.textbooks, monographs
Invention-based segment Spectroscope /
Spectroscopy
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Characteristics of a Subject

• A matter or topic that forms the basis of a
  conversation, train of thought, investigation
  etc
• An orgnised boy of ideas, whose extension and
  intension are likely to fall coherently
  within the field of interests and comfortably
  within the intellectual competence and the field
  of inevitable specialization of a normal person
  
• A subject is an organised and systematized body
  of ideas

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Examples of Binary Subject Systems
Object Object networking Science and
Technology Object Action networking
Processing of Food Object-Space networking
Apples of Kashmir Object-time networking
Libraries in the 19th century ActionAction
networking Cutting and Polishing Action-Space
networking Explosion in the Galaxies Action-Time
networking Bombings in the 1990s Space-Space
networking India and USA Space-Time
networking Delhi in the 21st century Time-Time
networking A comparison of 2007 2009
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Object - Object
Object Action
Time - Time
Object - Space
Space - Time
Networking Knowledge
Object - Time
Space - Space
Action - Time
Action Action
Action - Space
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Networking Knowledge
Complex interactions between tacit, explicit,
knowledge being discovered and the unlimited
knowledge needs of people ICT as a catalytic
agent
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David J. Skyrme depicts eleven characteristics
of knowledge networking
Structural components the networks nodes and
links Links provide paths for communications,
knowledge flows and developing of personal
relationships Nodes in networks can be
individuals or teams The nodes are the focal
points for activity or formal organizational
Processes The pattern of nodes and links
continually changes Density of connections
exhibits many forms some may be more circular
with obvious hubs others may be more
diffuse Individuals belong to several networks
in some they are more central than in
others There is often no discernible boundary to
a network Networks connect to each other, links
strengthen and weaken One-to-one and multiple
conversations take place synchronously or
Synchronously Knowledge flows in both
deliberate and unanticipated ways
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The Knowledge Networks The Examples
The Alaska Native Knowledge Network (ANKN) This
network looks collects information on native
knowledge systems in order to help to assist
Native people, government agencies, educators and
the general public in gaining access to the
knowledge base that Alaska Natives have acquired
through cumulative experience over millennia.
http//www.ankn.uaf.edu/about.html
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The Knowledge Networks The Examples
European Urban Knowledge Network This network
covers urban issues in which seventeen EU Member
States, EUROCITIES, the URBACT Programme and the
European Commission participate.
http//www.eukn.org/eukn/
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The Knowledge Networks The Examples
The Trade Knowledge Network (TKN) This network
covers trade, investment and sustainable
development. Collaborates with research
institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe and the
Americas. It links network members, strengthens
capacity in areas of research, training and
policy analysis, and also generates new research
to assess and address the impact of trade and
investment policies on sustainable development.
http//www.tradeknowledgenetwork.net/about/
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The Knowledge Networks The Examples
The ACE Electoral Knowledge Network. This network
provides comprehensive information on elections
and related issues. Networks professionals in the
field and offers capacity development services.
http//aceproject.org/about-en
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The Knowledge Networks The Examples
The Climate Change Knowledge Network The network
brings together expertise, experience and
perspectives from research institutes in
developing and developed countries active in the
area of climate change. Promotes research in
the field and initiates dialogues between the
countries on the subject. http//www.cckn.net/
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The Knowledge Networks The Examples
The Canadian Geoscience Knowledge Network (CGKN)
The network offers portal to the Canadian
geoscience information. As a result the Canadian
geoscience community is becoming a global leader
in providing rapid access to its knowledge
assets. Through the CGKN web site, clients are
now able to discover, view, evaluate and obtain
consistent and standardized geoscience data, maps
and publications. http//cgkn.net/cur/about/index
_e.html
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The Knowledge Networks The Examples
The CILT Knowledge Network, or CILTKN (pronounced
silt-kay-en) The network develops a major
resource on learning technology research and
development community. Gathers information about
researchers, research institutions, and research
projects course syllabi bibliographic
references an email forwarding service and a
bulletin board for collaborations to share and
identify research collaborators
http//www.cilt.org/resources/kn.html
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Knowledge Centres
Features of a General Knowledge Centre
A General Knowledge Centre is an advanced public
library. The subjects and topics handled are
varied in number Knowledge is imparted to every
individual in the public Development of content
by collecting from all kinds of sources and
processing it is an important activity Collects
all important local knowledge sources It should
bring in transformation in the society by
disseminating such knowledge which becomes the
agent of transformation Help of subject experts
is taken to collect and validate content and
solve queries of users ICT and its applications
are used to collect, process, disseminate and
archive knowledge New developments in the
knowledge sector which get noticed every other
day are captured for the development of the
Knowledge Centre
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Additional Features of a Specialised Knowledge
Centre
A specialized Knowledge Centre will collect all
types of sources on a small subject and maintain
connections and online links with all important
centres in the world that work on such
topic Knowledge available on the topic in
different languages is collected and got
translated through language experts before making
them part of the Knowledge Centre Knowledge is
generally disseminated to the specialists working
on a subject.
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Conclusion
Networking is the inherent characteristics of
the Universe of Knowledge The universe of
knowledge is continuous, multidimensional and
growing fast in a dynamic manner There is a need
to organise knowledge for the welfare of
mankind For that purpose knowledge networks and
knowledge centres will grow
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