Knowledge About Knowledge

This book is about what knowledge is, what types of knowledge there are, and what the implications are for understanding humans and for understanding AI, clarifying how knowledge differs from the data and information that underpin computing and the Internet.

The authors explain why there are types of knowledge that are difficult or impossible to put into words and show how this semi-tacit and tacit knowledge enables people to deal with the complexities of the real world. They also discuss how this knowledge is different from the explicit verbal knowledge underpinning most forms of AI, and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each type of knowledge. The book describes methods, drawn from a wide range of domains, for finding out about people’s knowledge, with explanations of how to represent knowledge systematically, and how to test it for errors. It also covers efficient ways of transmitting knowledge, and their applications in education and training. It concludes by considering the implications for a knowledge infrastructure revolution that goes beyond the Internet and AI.

Knowledge About Knowledge is a practical handbook for practitioners, academics, and students. It presents a radical new framework built on a broad range of sources and will prove invaluable in fields as diverse as social sciences, management, market research, education, public policy, design, human computer interaction, and artificial intelligence.