SEMS: ONE FEATURE OF COLAB SCAFFOLDING 1

 

            Work in Progress  August 20, 2008 -- 2 draft perspectives of a critical component of Larry Victor's model of reality which may enable us to rapidly emerge a nu planetary humanity. 2

             

            jorl - this embryonic theory of sems is probably consistent with your theory of information reality, beyond materialism, which I must study. Some aspects in the following came from recent insights resulting from my interactions with you and deepwater. 3

             

            SEM ENVELOPES 4

             

            I know that both emails and websites, when stored as files, have data that is not normally viewed when reading the site. Even word-processing documents have data related to the formatting, etc. stored in a place not normally viewed when reading or writing.  I know very little more about this, other than that search engines can access this data as well as data in the "body".  I don't know what this is called, but I will call it the envelope of the sem, or esem. The sem being the semiotic structure of the "body" (whether it be text, graphics, video, sound or multimedia). I expect the esem, today, is limited to text and code. 5

             

            In the hypermedia core of the emergent virtual world, the nodes are called a sem within an esem. The esem can be viewed as an envelope containing the address of the sem within the whole web of the emergent virtual world [EVW] and other data characterizing the sem among other sems. 6

             

            Whereas a sem can be fixed (no more editing), its' esem will be continuously changing. 7

             

            Some user data will be automatically entered into an esem whenever the sem is accessed. This may include the path (through other sems) by the user both before and after accessing the sem.  Depending on the nature of the sem, activity of a user with the sem may also be automatically added to the esem. Through linkages, the path of the user could be traced back and forward as much as the data allows. 8

             

            Depending on criteria, a user may block data entering the esem of a sem accessed. However, a balance between privacy and transparency must be negotiated. 9

             

            A user can request to add more data to the esem -- or the specific tour through the EVW the user has joined may automatically request the user to add data to the esem. For example, evaluation measures and other questionnaire-type input from the user. A user could request being asked for easy-to-use data entry systems for specific needs of the user. 10

             

            The overall system should be designed to make time with the esems as familiar and automatic as possible.  Users should be able to tailor how the request for esem data is presented and entered.  Entry could be by voice, foot pedal, brainwave, special iconic matrices, etc.  Each user would need to be trained to use this system as "second nature".  This requires a new attitude towards learning-to-use intelligent tools: that higher levels of performance requires training and practice - but the gains are well worth the effort. Driving a car at high speeds in traffic is a very complex skill - most people can learn this skill because they want to drive. 11

             

            esems will continuously be processed by a multitude of programs. The data, at any  moment, cannot be altered; but how that data is stored and accessed can be improved and changed. A backup access to all changes is retained, and can be accessed by anyone -- but the backup record cannot be modified, although parts may be tagged to indicate subsequent modifications. 12

             

            The relevance of esems is to enable an emergent virtual world of sems to grow with a semi-stable core - a scaffolding - with variations accounting for individual differences and alternative perspectives. Persons and teams can conduct e-tours and e-expeditions, the former heavy on experiencing and providing feedback, the latter heavy on adding new sems and alternative versions of sems.  e-tours and e-expeditions could now be offered in Wikipedia as an experiment, and through any domains of cyberspace.  The history of Wikipedia can inform us of issues in managing a participatory editing process. 13

             

            Today, most persons lock-into routine patterns in cyberspace -- never learning how truly diverse it is, how potentially REESEE.  Semi passive e-tours, with activity between watching tv and computer gaming, could become a major attraction. Done appropriately, this could be a source of resources for pre-STAR development. 14

             

            I believe esems are critical in making a hypermedia creation/experiencing system that users develop quality fluency and competency, with quality training - which can be integrated into e-tours and e-expeditions. 15

             

            I first learned of hypertext in the early 1980s via Ted Nelson, an early cyberspace guru. 16

             

            Ted's vision was that there would be only one "established copy" of a sem in cyberspace (although stored virtually in many locations for security). When that sem is to be included in an doc of assembled sems, the "established copy" is accessed and a record of that access is added to the esem of that "established sem". This is Larry's language, not Ted's.   Ted proposed that the authors of any sem would be acknowledged/rewarded according to the variables associated with access.  Ted's attempt at his Project Xanadu  was never successful - but still provides a vision of an alternative to the current system we have in the WorldWideWeb. 17

             

            Not that Ted's vision should now be implemented - we know much more.  But, we must examine our current system in terms of "paradigms" that blocks (or makes difficult) many processes. For example: the desktop paradigm, the building-construction paradigm for Project Design and Management Apps, the folder/file paradigm, the email paradigm, the business paradigm for Operating Systems, the outliner demoted and not integrated with hypertext, the printed page paradigm, the classroom paradigm for virtual education, the line after line after line paradigm for text-on-page, the backup paradigms, the outmoded "intellectual property" paradigms, the "user friendly" paradigm which blocks levels of competency development, etc. And, most significantly, the economic market paradigm for hardware and software development. 18

             

            Those deeply involved with intelligent technology have always created, as best they could, what they needed.  Whatever we call them: techies, hackers, geeks, computer-freaks, etc. -- they create technologies useful for their needs.  The Internet is the exemplar of this collaborative creativity, as with Open Source, Wikipedia, and other outstanding ventures.  However, many of these apps are frozen in paradigms comfortable for those deeply involved with intelligent technology (who usually have wide gaps of appreciation of how those without their special competencies function) but quite difficult to use by the novice. 19

             

            While on this theme, I must call attention to the works of Neil Larson in the 1980s. Neil was a maverick in a field of mavericks. He opposed the mouse and GUI, yet his software creations that augmented creativity have yet to be duplicated 3-4 decades later.  Larson's HOUDINI (a creator of webs of terms) and MAXTHINK (an outliner that forced re-examination of structures) are not available today (using our advanced technology).  In 1984 Larson created an online hypertext system (which I used) many years before his concept was employed in the early DOS version of the WWW.  Unfortunately, Neil could not adapt to the rapid changes in computing and many of those changes, unfortunately, wiped out a theme of importance for intelligent technology - how to augment human creativity. 20

             

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_web_browser 21

             

            http://www.eatonhand.com/maxthink.htm 22

             

            http://www.maxthink.org/indexflash.htm   : A windows version of Maxthink is now available. But it is a new version of Houdini, with multiple types of links between nodes. that would be most useful. 23

             

            I expect that contemporary search engines search the esems of existing websites, as well as the text in the sem. What we need is a fresh look at the sem & esem framework, both in terms of diverse users and those who know the variables involved in creating such systems.  This is not a development that will have immediate market value. After a number of generations of development, a new cyberspace based on the sem/esem framework might eventually dominate. 24

             

            Initially, this system will require considerable human participation, along with sophisticated automation. We must return to enjoy repeated routine performance, as needed in the early stages of innovation. A fetish for automation must be resisted. 25

             

            There may be a set of standard formats for sems, which a user could select to display the sem. Sem creator recommended formats also available. Standardization could speed processing when using familiar formats. 26

             

            Recommended size of sem -- where all information can be processes in one sitting with all (or most) active in short-term memory.  User time with a sem will vary greatly, due to many factors. Some sems will require "guides" for some users, to be determined by users processing patterns and the profile of the user (this could be viewed as an envelope for the user). 27

             

            This feature of a nu cyberspace cannot stand alone. There are many other features needing development, in synergy, with this feature. 28