con_gress trying
to understand the emerging
theory of centric networks
>sensing>information>knowledge>awareness>understanding>decision>
action>shared information>shared knowledge>collaboration
// how does collaboration, networking and exchange of information develop?
// which terms can enable us to speak about it?
// which possibilities do derive from this terminology for our own production?
// what influence could these terms have on contemporary art-production?
// can they add to our attempts to find formats and transmittors for content?
"The age we live in is full of contradictions. It is a time unlike any other,
a time when the pace of change demands that we change while we are still at
the top of our game in order to survive the next wave….
Fortunately, we are not alone…. Organizations in every competitive space and
individuals in every area of human endeavor are grappling with the relentless
demands of our age.
Progress will not be orderly, nor will it be predictable. This will be hard for
many to understand and accept.…
Given the dynamics and complexities of our time and the incredible pace of change,
planning is truly-as the old adage goes-all about the process, not the plan….
Visions are being created and significant progress is being made. But to date
we have been only scratching the surface of what is possible….
Developing an understanding of how and why things work as they do, or could work,
is fundamental to being able to systematically improve functionality….
The first real sign of progress involves the emergence and acceptance of a special
language to describe and talk about the problem. This language identifies and
defines the primitives needed to build a theory. It enables meaningful discussions
and comparisons….
The important thing to note is that this initial version of the concept is only
a point of departure for a series of discovery experiments that will help us
explore ways to make the basic idea behind the concept work…. (Creating a special
language that allows us to express our ideas about Information Age … concepts
in somewhat precise and unambiguous terms is a necessary prerequisite to useful
discourse and meaningful exploration. …We would suggest that this is and needs
to be a work in progress….)
The physical domain is the place … of ground, sea, air, and space…. In our
analyses and models, the physical domain is characterized as reality, or ground
truth….
The information domain is where information lives. It is the domain where
information is created, manipulated, and shared….The information that exists in
the information domain may or may not truly reflect ground truth. For example, a
sensor observes the real world and produces an output (data) which exists in the
information domain. With the exception of direct sensory observation, all of our
information about the world comes through and is affected by our interaction with
the information domain. And it is through the information domain that we
communicate with others (telepathy would be an exception)….
The cognitive domain is in the minds of the participants. This is the place where
perceptions, awareness, understanding, beliefs, and values reside and where, as
a result of sensemaking, decisions are made….
Note that all of the contents of the cognitive domain pass through a filter or
lens we have labeled human perception. This filter consists of the individual's
worldview, the body of personal knowledge the person brings to the situation,
their experience, training, values, and individual capabilities (intelligence,
personal style, perceptual capabilities, etc.). Since these human perceptual
lenses are unique to each individual, we know that individual cognition
(understandings, etc.) are also unique. There is one reality, or physical domain….
Direct sensing is shown as a mapping from the physical domain directly into the
cognitive domain…. Data is a representation of individual facts, concepts, or
instructions in a manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or
processing by humans or by automatic means….The term processed data is often used,
though, in fact, all data is processed. When this term is used it is meant to
imply additional processing….
Knowledge exists in both the information and the cognitive domains.
Some knowledge is pre-existing…. Knowledge can be loaded into the cognitive domain
of an individual via several possible paths, including:
1. previous education, training, or experience
2. direct experience with the physical domain
3. interaction with other humans
4. interaction with the information domain…
Awareness relates to a situation and, as such, is the result of a complex
interaction between prior knowledge (and beliefs) and current perceptions of
reality…. Understanding involves having a sufficient level of
knowledge to be able to draw inferences about the possible consequences of the
situation, as well as sufficient awareness of the situation to predict future
patterns….
Decisions are acted upon and/or conveyed via the information domain for others
to act upon, resulting in or influencing actions in the physical domain and/or
other decisions….
Actions take place in the physical domain. They are triggered by decisions in
the cognitive domain that either are directly translated into action or have been
transported through the information domain to others….
The sharing of information is an interaction that can take place between two or
more entities in the information domain. These could be between humans, databases,
or programs such as planning … applications. The ability to share information is
key to being able to develop a state of shared awareness, as well as being able
to collaborate and/or synchronize…. When two or more people are located in close
proximity, information can be exchanged by voice via face-to-face conversation.
Other techniques that employ body movement, such as hand signals, can also be
employed. Body language can also be used to communicate information, but it is
easy to miss or misunderstand these signals. In some cases, visual aids can also
be used to enhance ideas or concepts of communication. When two or more people
are geographically separated, some type of technology must be employed to share
information (e.g., telephone, e-mail, video teleconferencing)….
Shared knowledge exists to some degree in all human efforts to work together.
However, the extent of this sharing varies dramatically…. Shared awareness is a
state that exists in the cognitive domain when two or more entities are able to
develop a similar awareness of a situation. The degree of similarity required
(or difference tolerable) will depend on the type and degree of collaboration and
synchronization needed….
Multiple factors influence the degree to which a state of shared awareness can be
developed between two or more entities. These certainly include the degree of
shared information and knowledge, but are also heavily influenced by similarities
and differences in worldview, culture, language, and perceived interests.
Shared awareness is an important prerequisite for the ability to synchronize
actions in the physical domain in the absence of a detailed plan….
Collaboration is a process that takes place between two or more entities.
Collaboration always implies working together towards a common purpose. This
distinguishes it from simply sharing data, information, knowledge, or awareness.
It is also a process that takes place in the cognitive domain….
Each of the primitives introduced in the previous chapter has a set of attributes
associated with it that help us measure its value (e.g., information quality) or
the degree to which it is realized (e.g., degree of synchronization).
Each of these attributes represents a feature or characteristic that is important
in understanding the nature, impacts, and/or value of information.
Latency, for example, is an attribute of information….
We recognize that in the beginning it will be hard for individual projects to do
a satisfactory job of measuring all of the Information … attributes of interest.
However, if we stick to it, things will improve. Someday these concepts will be
routinely measured and contribute to increasing our understanding of the value of
information and the power of networking. …
Meanwhile, the databases resulting from serious projects will provide a foundation
for future work and innovation….
New venues are needed to facilitate the exploration and testing of ideas….
We will stop thinking about systems and start thinking about systems of systems
or federations of systems….
Lessons are learned from doing, better ways of doing things are developed,
perfected, … and then reflected in training and exercises….
Of ultimate importance is what is being done with these newly provided technical
capabilities. That is, enabling individuals and organizations to create value in
new ways. …" [1]
inga zimprich/nilgün serbest 2003
[1]
Departement of Defense of America:
Understanding Information Age Warfare
David S. Alberts, John J. Garstka, Richard E. Hayes, David A. Signori
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Understanding information age warfare / David S. Alberts … [et al.].
p. cm.
ISBN 1-893723-04-6 (pbk.)
1. Information warfare.
2. Electronics in military engineering--United States.
3.
Military planning--United States.
I. Alberts, David S. (David Stephen), 1942-
U163 .U49 2001
355.3'43--dc21
2001043080
August 2001