Our product concept aligns seamlessly with both our company’s mission and the historical context we find ourselves in.
In discussing knowledge management, it is essential to focus on the underlying cognitive frameworks and behavioral patterns. (Paradigm shift in PKM) Therefore, I will first explore the rationale behind our approach from the perspective of technological media.
The Medium is the Message
— Marshall McLuhan
Media are not merely tools of communication; they profoundly shape and transform our perceptions, thought processes, and social structures.
Oral Culture
In oral traditions, ideas are exchanged through public discourse and Socratic dialogues, representing a primitive form of “multifaceted thinking.” However, this exchange is constrained by time and space, lacking the permanence required for cross-temporal communication.
In this setting, truth is often sought through a few wise individuals rather than through individual inquiry.
Written Culture
The invention of the Gutenberg press shattered the monopoly of centralized, class-based knowledge. It enabled broader access to information, fostering a shift from collectivism to individualism.
The linear structure of books, with their emphasis on in-depth reading and writing, laid the foundation for modern scientific rigor. Knowledge became systematically categorized across disciplines, enabling profound breakthroughs.
No longer dependent on sages, society began to place trust in scientific reasoning to address worldly challenges.
Electronic Media
The telegraph was the first to transcend the limitations of time and space, creating an era of simultaneity. Television and radio followed, making information ubiquitous.
Yet, unlike the depth afforded by the printed word, these mediums fragmented content to cater to mass audiences. They offered convenience but lacked the capacity for deep exploration.
As a result, society began to rely on authoritative sources rather than scientific methods alone for answers.
Digital Media
The internet represents a comprehensive integration of previous media forms, continuously evolving in ways that make its future unpredictable.
From the decentralized, in-depth discourse of forums and blogs to the rise of algorithms and platforms, the internet has cultivated new centralized structures while diversifying content.
It embodies a duality: while it facilitates individual expression and connection, it also fragments communication.
Despite challenges such as “information overload” and “filter bubbles,” we do not hastily judge these trends. Rather, we seek to understand whether the ongoing interplay of technology, business, and culture can yield an “optimal application.”
A New Era In PKM
We believe the time is ripe for a transformation in knowledge management. This moment offers a unique opportunity to connect all forms of information, catalyzing our thinking and enabling us to realize our personal potential and aspirations.
Hypertext Thinking and Technology
The concept of “hypertext thinking” underpins the structure of internet applications, where connections between nodes form a network, allowing users to freely navigate the knowledge space. This approach offers several defining features:
- Non-linear Structure: Information is organized as a network of discrete nodes, enabling free navigation through hyperlinks.
- Multi-dimensional Connections: These nodes are interconnected across various contexts, creating an open, fluid structure.
- Dynamic Evolution: The knowledge network continuously evolves, with changes in individual nodes reshaping the whole.
- Personalization and Interactivity: Users determine their path, fostering a personalized, engaging learning experience.
In knowledge management, the goal of hypertext thinking is to create a “second brain” — a system that facilitates not only storage but also active, dynamic knowledge processing.
However, a significant hurdle has been achieving semantic depth. Traditional computing, designed for deterministic, linear scenarios, struggles to manage the non-linear, ever-evolving nature of knowledge networks.
Consequently, “links” often remain external to the system, as they heavily depend on the user’s manual input and independent thinking, preventing true integration.
(Knowledge Connection Made Simple)
From “Storage Space” to “Thought Network”
The advent of large-scale AI models has enabled knowledge management systems to integrate both non-linear breadth and linear depth.
- The Past of PKM: Previous note-taking software functioned more as a file repository, focused on storage and retrieval. Features like tags and search improved accessibility but required manual organization and failed to generate automatic associations or deeper insights.
- AI-Driven Transformation: Today, AI brings a new level of semantic understanding. It not only comprehends user intent but also builds dynamic, non-linear connections. Through generative capabilities, AI introduces novel perspectives and stimulates creative thinking.
Harmony in Diversity
The Chinese concept of “harmony in diversity” seeks unity through differences. While social media reflects a wide array of user experiences, it often leads to uniformity, as expressive values converge around popular trends.
We value social media and recommendation algorithms for highlighting the limitations of self-expression in fragmented environments, encouraging us to rediscover our authentic selves rather than pursuing external validation.
The Unity and Growth of Self
“You are what you think.” —— Carl Jung
personal knowledge management tools, as the counterpoint to social media, offer spaces for authentic self-expression. These tools reflect the diversity of individual thought, which, through dynamic linking, can evolve into broader perspectives and drive innovation.
“A thought that does not grow cannot go far.” —— Franz Kafka
To nurture and expand thought, we must create environments that encourage deep reflection and foster the dynamic growth of ideas — an approach that resonates with hypertext thinking.
Collective Wisdom
“Knowledge comes from the resonance of the crowd, not isolated minds.”
—— Marvin Minsky
In the early days of the internet, platforms like Wikipedia transformed knowledge by aggregating global insights, facilitating unprecedented collaboration across time and space.
Today, we are entering a new era where collective and individual intelligence coalesce. The synergy between individual growth and collective wisdom creates an information ecosystem that evolves in harmony with natural processes.
Vision: Multivac
Inspired by Isaac Asimov’s The Last Question, our vision for ARCNOTE is to become a “Multivac” of knowledge — a platform that aggregates human wisdom, nurtures emerging ideas, and transcends traditional boundaries of knowledge management.
Ecosystem Development
- User-Driven Growth: As more users engage with ARCNOTE, its knowledge graph becomes more intelligent and precise. Every contribution propels the system’s evolution.
- Global Expansion: With multilingual support, ARCNOTE fosters cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration, dismantling barriers to global knowledge exchange.
A Decentralized Knowledge Network
- Open Architecture: ARCNOTE will develop into a decentralized knowledge network, allowing users to manage and contribute knowledge nodes. Leveraging distributed technology, it ensures transparency and dismantles traditional knowledge silos.
- Enhanced Collaboration: ARCNOTE aims to foster not just individual or team productivity, but societal-level creative collaboration. By harnessing intelligent linking and recommendations, it drives cross-disciplinary innovation, unlocking the power of collective intelligence.
Leave a Reply