The Growing Universe of Knowledge Networking Scenarios

1. The Growing Universe of Knowledge Networking Scenarios Dr. H. K. Kaul Director, DELNET hkkaul@gmail.com

2. 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’

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 life’s coming attractions.” The Universe of Explicit Knowledge The Universe of Knowledge Requirements of People The Universe of Untapped Knowledge

7. 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

8. 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 expanding;Speed will vary from segment to segment • Some segments may split into more segments, some may unite together to create new segments, thus creating clusters

9. 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

10. 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…

11. 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 Action–Action 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

12. Object - Object Time - Time Object – Action Object - Space Space - Time Networking Knowledge Object - Time Space - Space Action - Time Action – Action Action - Space

13. Networking Knowledge Complex interactions between tacit, explicit, knowledge being discovered and the unlimited knowledge needs of people ICT as a catalytic agent

14. David J. Skyrme depicts eleven characteristics of knowledge networking Structural components: the network’s 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

15. 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

17. 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/

19. 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/

21. 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

23. 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/

25. 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

27. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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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