2D-info Space Concepts

detailed

"First in the world 2D-info Processor... just for students and scientists!"
Surf knowledge... Connect ideas... Improve quality of learning... Create personal 2D-info space... Share with the world!

Get tired of the growing volume of information? Too much words and too little valuable ideas?
Up to now, there were no effective solutions to this sadly famous problem, which is often referred to as information explosion. Do you remember that feeling of frustration, when after hours of purposeful reading you realize that a level of your knowledge actually remains the same? In fact, under current paradigms, there is simply no room for such solutions.

This Web site aims to introduce some alternative paradigms for developing and distributing the object-oriented textual content. I am proposing a new concept, a philosophy if you want (see White Pages), plus its quite real implementation in Java^TM language.

What is 2D-info Space

This is a new model of data organization. The 2D-info Space is implemented as a virtual container

for integrating all available versions of an information object. As far as we are talking about the same ideas, we may accumulate related instances into one structure.

One dimension represents a gradually changing Level of details for current version, e.g., compact, normal, detailed, etc.
Another one contains an array of versions for a specified Level, e.g., views for biologists, mathematicians, children, etc. Any translation is a unique version as well.

For the beginning, let's take a look at the world of software. The most elegant way of simplifying and optimizing a complex programming code is in using advantages of object-orientation. The content is viewed as a set of self-contained blocks, - objects. New content may easily be created by inheritance of the objects, etc. Aim of this project is to apply object-oriented approaches to information.

The first step is in representing text as a Java program. Consequently, we will be able to apply principles of object-orientation, which come with object-oriented software development. For example, information can be inherited, or extended, from another content!

However, texts are not a formalized computer code. They have never been written only in words with a strictly predefined meaning. No matter how advanced modern systems for automatical data retrieval are, only human beings are able to analyze the content correctly. What is more, humans' opinions differ. Each reader has his own vision as for the content's interpretation.
Therefore, next step is in introducing adjustable information, - a data program that allows integrating versions of active readers into initial content, and re-arranging versions' importance. As a result, we are able to (a) represent all available data as one information object, and (b) have unlimited number of users' views to that object.

Another feature of the 2D-info Space is applying to content a principle of fragmentation. Text is represented as a set of independent units, e.g., paragraphs. For machines, fragmented information looks more convenient for further processing. The proposed Java-based open file format supports the fragmentation. A special built-in InfoProcessor allows navigating between the units, and editing the whole structure. The resulting information cube is scalable. The 2D-information files contain instructions on how to compile specified units into one InfoPage.

Speaking about operational design of the 2D-info Space, it would be helpful to compare it with the famous Rubik's Cube:

	- This is how we look at a page (1D view, front). Blocks of text with different colors symbolize different Units, e.g., paragraphs.
	- This is how the same page is viewed in the InfoExplorer (2D view). We can adjust the content by turning (shifting) required Instance. As easy as playing with the Rubik's Cube!

The built-in navigation system allows controlling the way information needs to be shown. Different users can use different views to the information cube. However, they always deal with the same class of information.

To be more precise, an analogy with Rubik's Pyramid is more appropriate. The size of each block depends on a volume of information, a number of used words. The higher Level, the less details!

Unlike cubes or pyramids, number of used facets here is not limited.

Develop information as a program
The 2D-info Space is implemented as a Software Development Kit.
For programmers, this may be especially interesting, as the kit allows describing knowledge in Java (see 2D-information examples). Resulting object-oriented content can easily be integrated into other Java programs. Unlike most proprietary file formats, this one is open and fully Java-compatible.
For end users, there is no need to know programming (although some Java experience is recommended). To work with 2D-information, we can use a user-friendly extension to the kit, - the 2D-infoExplorer application.

Why it's important
Because 2D-info Space outlines a new vision for knowledge management. Its key features: more flexible approach to information representation, ability to manipulate content fragments, and ability to dynamically extend (inherit) knowledge in object-oriented way.

What is a successful book? This is the best Instance for tons of just good ones! No matter how many versions we have in our data bank, the most of them should be hidden from readers. The 2D-info Space is a transparent mechanism, implementing the best of both worlds:

it makes visible only the best version(s), and
it allows browsing through all versions, if required.

If the Internet has the 2D-info navigation capabilities, there would be fewer complaints about information overloading. Look, we tend using Internet as a giant hard drive. As the drive is relatively cheap, it can be stuffed with redundant information. Uncounted amount of layers with redundant information! It looks big, but gives too little.
In contrast, the 2D-info Space hides the most related instances. Users work with only one object, - class of information. In addition, the object supports a continuous improving of its content.

Where can it be used
Considering a significant difference between research-based activity and process-oriented one, the 2D-info Space is oriented towards R&D. 2D-information structure partly reflects the way people think. However, this technology is not equally well applicable to all kinds of data. It has been designed to operate with supplementary, not contradictory, data. The 2D-info Space represents information as a clearly defined set of similar concepts! Consequently, the 2D-info Space is a perfect tool for learning, for supporting creative and analytical processing. A very good example is systematization of patents and inventions. At the same time, it's almost not suitable for such activities as decision-making, real-time discussion forums, etc.
The 2D-info Space works well with databanks and other collections of textual information. For example, it can manage a reference index to a collection, or used as multilingual readware.
Its unique mechanism of controlling priority of selected information objects works perfect in both personal and groupware environments. The system helps writers to design their content. Ultimately, it can be applied to large databanks like the Internet.

Example of business-oriented usage
The 2D-information is a new data file format, which is convenient for selling your intellectual activity. You can use 2D-infoExplorer to make subtle changes to information, such as re-wording, or to make major changes, such as adjusting and sharpening content's focus.
As a starting point, you can take some existing content and simply make it fragmented (break it into several logical info-objects). You can create several versions of the content, which have different Levels of details. You can add your own Instances of the versions. The Instance can be a view for a specific audience, or just a simple re-wording. For example, any translation into another language is almost absolutely original content. Also, you can link some objects with similar fragments in other files.
The aim is to create a completely new content structure, - 2D-information object. The scale and quality of the resulting file depend on your intellectual efforts. Start earning money by developing and selling your 2D-information now!

Product to sell: information.
Added value: pre-analysis and improving the textual content.
Limitation: applicable only to supplementary (not contradictory) data.

This Web site is not and in no way is affiliated to official site of the InfoSpace, Inc.
The term "2D-info Space" is not affiliated with trademarks of the InfoSpace, Inc.
Copyright(C) S. Beloy