The Alive Tree of Knowledge A new concept in Collective Interactive Knowledge Integration

The basic concept: (on which limitations and amendments have to be performed) “unmoderated collective Christmas tree decoration”: each member of the community sits in front of a branched tree representation of the field and makes desired additions / changes, deletions. I am here; My papers

Kind of material included in the tree: Spontaneous contributions by community Members -macro-nodes: representing large fields connected to the subject -Nodes: representing subjects with a significant internal coherence -Sub-nodes: representing research groups or specific issues -Basic unit: representing individuals profiles, -Articles -Plans for actions -Opinion papers Skeleton materials initiated by the Tree-keepers: -Invited nodes (representations of new / emerging fields) -Editorial nodes (major issues underrepresented in spontaneous contributions) -Synopsis Nodes (items facilitating the exploration of branches by newcomers)

This ideal of total freedom of expression is limited by technical, social and scientific limitations: -Technical: avoid conflict of updating same file at the same time - Social : preventing malicious deletions or deliberate junk deposition -Scientific : - preserving the profile and scientific integrity - Allowing objective tools to discern more from less relevant entries. This forest-ranger activity will take much of the tree-keeper resources

Maintenance Eliminate/ update obsolete items / structures Design pedagogical guided tree-tours for beginners Design personalized tree-queries facility (interactively fit to the enquirer profile) Provide tree-search Filters Provide current orientation: highlight new emergent leader ideas, leader documents Provide contributors support (access, interactive tools)

Tree map demo This presentation is to demonstrate 2 vital points The first is the graphical creation of a connections map, (dragging- adding deleting reorganizing) The second is the stage paradigm, that is the linked object (stage) is composed of three main parts –Its place on the network of connection (neighbors) –An optional remote page (that is to be linked and discussed on this network) –Open discussions relating to the stage

Not in this demo Authors/ Contributors –The author is an entity that may be shown on the graph, connected to wherever the author contributed. –Registration is required in order to contribute (and to put oneself on the map ) –A network of authors/contributors may be created either explicitly or by common interests as defined by the participation.

Entities in the graph The Stage is the container of data. It is the node that is linked to others. Stages are created on the graph. Discourses are created inside a stageThe discourse is the place where all users may have their say. Discourses are created inside a stage A discourse may be split into two, or may mature into a Stage (coming soon) (coming soon)The Discourse contains regular text that is auto-formatted into a web page (hyperlinks, headings,TEX (coming soon) ) All of the content is editable (clicking on any text gives that option )

Main view Map Text

Two panes: graph and content

StageHidden neighbors Selected Stage Discourse

Expanding tree map view

Expanded tree map view

Zooming in (before)

Zooming in (after)

Clicking on either will navigate (both panes)

Navigating to the “Exystence” node Intermediate (animation) frames missing …

Clusters automatically formed by elastic connections and repelling forces

Reducing visible radius (locality)

Creating a link

Creating a new link (dragging)

New link brings concepts together

Deleting link (right click)

Creating a node (Stage)

Dragging a new node into Exystence

The sample node is created

And deleted … (right click)

Resizing the views

Equal view

Related nodes are clickable

Tooltips, show node description

Clicking will shift both panes to the new Stage

Related nodes are clickable

Missing Frames (and animation)…

Map is in sync with text browsing

Expanding visible radius (in hops)

Expanding visible radius

Browsing

Missing animation

Navigation

Multiple Discourses visible

The remote coupled page Stage

Remote coupled page connected

Remote coupled page hidden

Remote page url

Initiating a Discourse

Adding comments to a page

Immediate formatted comment

Hiding the discourse body

Hiding the content

Summary The Stage has 3 main components. –Place on the map (and links to neighbors) –Optional remote coupled page –Discourses containing simply formatted, hyperlinked, collectively user-generated freely editable content

Here are those links …

Links, Remote page, Discourse