Resending the email in a text-friendly format. Hello,
I’m looking for a research partner to explore the following topics: 1. Universal Knowledge Repository — its rationale, scope, and key components 2. 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](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 _______________________________________________ Wiki-research-l mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
