Hello,
I’m looking for a research partner to explore the following topics:
-
Universal Knowledge Repository — its rationale, scope, and key components
-
Wikipedia as a foundation for a Universal Knowledge Repository
I am a hands-on builder, and I have already created a working prototype of
a Universal Knowledge Repository (see Research Question #6 below). I’m
seeking help with: (1) exploring and formalizing the theoretical concepts
(see Research Questions #1–5), (2) analyzing and quantifying the outcomes
of implementing a Universal Knowledge Repository, (3) presenting results in
an academically appropriate format, and (4) writing and submitting
grant/funding applications (e.g., to the Wikimedia Research Fund or other
programs).
------------------------------
Research Question #1
If Wikipedia were defined not as an online encyclopedia, but as a universal
knowledge repository, what would it look like?
Research areas:
-
- Define a Universal Knowledge Repository
- Rationale
- Scope
- Key components
- Wikipedia as a local maximum of a Universal Knowledge Repository
- Wikipedia as a foundation for a Universal Knowledge Repository
- Wikipedia as a forum rather than an encyclopedia
- Talk pages as forums
- Mainspace articles as a transient output of talk-page discussions
- The creation of an editor community as the most valuable outcome of
Wikipedia’s existence
- The editor community as valuable in itself, separate from its
output (articles for readers)
- Where does the editor community go if its volunteer role in
knowledge organization is reduced or replaced by AI?
Research Question #2
Is a humane social networking service an essential part of a Universal
Knowledge Repository?
Research areas:
-
Define a “humane” social networking service
-
Show that a humane social networking service is an essential part of a
Universal Knowledge Repository
Research Question #3
Is a focus on knowledge an essential basis of a humane social networking
service, as a way to shift attention away from social-comparison races?
Research areas:
-
Social comparison, mimetic desire, self-esteem
-
How integral these concepts are to human psychology
-
How these should be managed and accounted for in a humane social
networking service
-
Addictive feeds/streams — what makes a stream addictive vs. useful
-
Identify main methods to “detoxify” social networking services, such as:
-
shifting focus from unproductive social comparisons to knowledge
organization
-
removing like/follower counters as ego metrics
-
providing customizable, non-addictive feeds aimed at
professional/educational growth and real-world connection
Research Question #4
Is outsourcing most of the knowledge collection and organization to AI
required to compile a Universal Knowledge Repository?
Research areas:
-
Estimate the need to outsource some of the knowledge collection and
organization to AI
-
Consequences of outsourcing a substantial part of knowledge collection
and organization to AI
Research Question #5
What types of users exist in a Universal Knowledge Repository, based on
motivation (intent)?
Research areas:
-
User types by motivation (intent)
-
Funding and business model of a Universal Knowledge Repository: how
motivations of different user types could be used to support it
-
How to make development and innovation in a Universal Knowledge
Repository sustainable
Research Question #6
Implement a working prototype of a Universal Knowledge Repository with
humane social networking capabilities.
Partially done and available for review. Example:
https://www.hubbry.com/University_of_Lviv
Research areas:
-
Hubs — collections of pages organized hierarchically, used to collect
and organize knowledge
-
Personal hubs
-
Common hubs
-
Wikipedia articles as seeds for common hubs
-
Subpages — enabling hierarchical knowledge organization
-
Standard ways to describe rules for knowledge organization and
verification per page and its subpages
-
Standard ways to describe requirements for perspectives / points of view
to be represented on a page and its subpages
-
Page types by content:
-
Media pages — collecting media as an independent page type
-
Notes pages — collecting text snippets as an independent page type
-
Notes pages — use cases for quick knowledge organization and
unstructured data organization
-
Notes pages with columns — use case for work coordination
(Kanban-like pages)
-
Comments on pages
-
Impact on readers’ perception of knowledge presented on a page
-
Impact on editors’ motivation when comments are present
-
Separate discussion spaces (forums and chats) related to—but not
directly attached to—a page (hub-level forums and chats)
-
User profiles with extended functionality (subpages, discussion
channels) — “personal hubs”
-
Impact of extended social profiles on editors’ motivation
------------------------------
If you’re interested, I’d be happy to share additional details, discuss
possible research directions, and align on what a collaboration could look
like.
Best regards,
Bohdan
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