IDEAS Architecture - The Books and the Internet

May 20, 2012
4:56 am (GMT)

IDEAS

The Encyclopedia for All Peoples

The architecture of IDEAS is based upon the integration of several different systems of encyclopedias and internet encyclopedic resources. It is complex at first glance but actually it is very simple and is designed to provide multiple levels of detail and specialization in order to serve both different audiences and the basic human processes of investigation, discovery, learning and innovation.

There are eight major components, both in-print and online, but varying in the quantity of content between the two formats (somewhat less for the printed editions):

SYNTOPICON - major themas and topics of history, culture and society
MEGAPEDIA - Very comprehensive very small article/annotation encyclopedia
DEMOPEDIA - comprehensive, popular-audience encyclopedia with concise short articles rich in graphics and media links, designed also to employ LiveTalkingBook ™ technology
ACADEMOPEDIA - formal high-calibre detailed articles for personal studies and research-level use in schools and universities
AGORA - web-based collaboratory and forum/questionary environment for online discussions and learning
DELPHION - artificial-intelligence-enhanced software resource for finding answers to problems, using the resources of IDEAS and the Web
GREAT WORKS - a collection of major written and non-text media productions throughout history and from many cultures that represent some of the leading influences in thinking and development of ideas and cultures
THEMATIC INDEX AND REFERENCE - comprehensive for all the fixed-content elements of the IDEAS Encyclopedia

Presently (09.Aug.03) it is too early to show much more than some work-in-progress for content specification and definition (go to the Introductory Examples link from the home page - comments and critiques are most welcome) and the working software engines that will be used for the AGORA and for parts of DELPHION and the online versions of the Encyclopedia.

This software is in Version 1.0 status and ready now for content development.

UMA, the C3DE (Collaborative Cognitive Community Development Environment) software that is the basis for the AGORA and also for the DELPHION
HERMES, the C3DE software that will be used for authors and editors working together over the internet on different parts of the IDEAS Encyclopedia

In addition, registered users on this site can explore (go to "Enter" on the home page) two important software systems that are important for using IDEAS online:

(1) The in-development HORUS learning engine that is be used within the DELPHION and also by the encyclopedia project team in their own work of composing, writing and editing the different volumes (both in-print and online)

(2) Radio Z, the browser-based "knowledge player" designed somewhat in a manner akin to Real Player, Windows Media Player, WinAmp and similar media applications, but here the media is Knowledge that comes in the form of questions, texts, images, audio, video, and a healthy but carefully, intelligently managed dose of dynamic web services.

Other informative resources that can help to understand methodologies and thinking that underlies IDEAS can be found through the following websites:

Futures Gateway Program, containing a description of how IDEAS methods and content can be used in the setting of international team-oriented e-learning projects among elementary, middle and high school students and their teachers and families
Ïëàíåòà Çíàíèÿ (Planeta Znaniya, Planet of Knowledge), an early development of a business model built around some of the basic concepts going into IDEAS
and
Slackware.RU, a software questionary/forum that exemplifies functional aspects of the AGORA

Pay attention to the links that lead to various experimental "Knowledge Gateways". Explore. Discover. Imagine. Think. Innovate. Rest. Re-Create. Share.