General Content Access ---------+ | Suppose | +--------- I enter a room that you are already in. In that room there is a box. On the event that I wanted to know the contents of this box I have two choices: 1) Open the box and discover the contents. 2) Ask you to explain the contents to me. There is no other way to know the contents of this box. --------------+ | Introduction | +-------------- ------------------+ | What is content? | +------------------ In the production of this piece I has to ask myself what is it that we seek and sort through in life in the quest for knowledge? At first, I penned this file General Information Access and then learned that there are more ideas out there than just information. This being the case, let us begin with a definition of what it is that we refer to when we yearn to expand our knowledge on a topic with which we are lacking. =============================================================================== = carbon$ dict content = = From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: = = = = Content \Con"tent\ (k[o^]n"t[e^]nt or k[o^]n*t[e^]nt"; 277), n.; = = usually in pl., {Contents}. = = 1. That which is contained; the thing or things held by a = = receptacle or included within specified limits; as, the = = contents of a cask or bale or of a room; the contents of a = = book. = = [1913 Webster] = =============================================================================== Following this definition, I propose that all ideas that have ever been thought, are now being thought, and forever into the future will be thought fall under the label of content and contained within all of the brains, written works, recordings, and other artworks that have been created and are yet to be. Content is a very general term and can indeed be used to describe nearly anything. -------------+ | Assumption: | +------------- "It is desirable to have a system to access the content of human knowledge." I cannot say that I am fully willing to accept this assumption, but offer it in honor of the world in which we live and use it for the discussion of the system. I challenge every reader to vet the assumption above and carefully consider the implications for not only ourselves, but also those of future generations. /***************************** * Systems - Content Creation * *****************************/ Let's start with nothing and from there build a system for people to access the content of human knowledge. Since there is nothing so far, let us begin by adding content to the system. Alas, equipped with nothing, we have not even the tools to add content. Since the objective is to create a system for access the content of human knowledge, we must conjure a method to obtain the content from the population. Since the content must come from the human population we are once again presented with only two options: 1) The population voluntarily contibutes content. 2) The population involuntarily contributes content. The way in which knowledge is contributed is a fundamental piece of our system. As such, let us give this our attention and ponder each of the two options so as to make an informed decision. Central to the mechanism of contribution is this the idea of whether contributions are voluntary or not. Here I present a definition of the word to recall its meaning for our use. ====================================================================== = carbon$ dict voluntary = = ... = = 2. Unconstrained by the interference of another; unimpelled = = by the influence of another; not prompted or persuaded by = = another; done of his or its own accord; spontaneous; = = acting of one's self, or itself; free. = = [1913 Webster] = ====================================================================== A voluntary contribution then is one that a creature would make without the influence of another's persuasion and of one's own volition. Only able to speak of my own experience, this document is a art of my own composition that I have voluntarily contibuted to the sundogs of circumlunar space as well as anyone else with the resources, techincal ability to locate, and access it. The choice to contibute on a voluntary basis has a result to exclude contributions. -those who don't feel their contribution is worth sharing -those who don't want to share particular features of their knowledge -anything one considers to be private -minute details of our everyday existence -the color of my toilet -et cetera The number of volunteers would, without a proof, be less than the total human population. Further scrutinizing, the content these volunteers would contribute would be a subset of all of the content of their life. It follows then that the volume of content available on system based on voluntary contribution would be only a small fraction of all of the content that exists. Self-sovereignty is naturally preserved in a system of voluntary contributions. One retains the authority of the content he or she contributes and may cease to contribute at any time and omit any content which they choose. The involuntary contribution then is everything that can feasibly be harvested from the human population. The scope and breadth of information available would greatly exceed that made available by voluntary contribution. Self-sovereignty creates no obstacle for the system of involuntary contribution.[1] All human beings would be compelled to share all content with our system. /********************** * Systems - Retrieval * **********************/ Either voluntarily or involuntarily, content is now available to discess. What has content? What is information? Accessing information Information generation Information retrieval Existing techniques to find information. [1] https://qz.com/1131515/google-collects-android-users-locations-even-when-location-services-are-disabled/