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Asking Questions for 'Living Library'

DroppingknowledgeThere’s a fascinating experiment taking place this weekend. It’s called “dropping knowledge” — a meeting and project that

challenges the notion that only the media and so-called ‘experts’ can speak out on matters of global relevance. dropping knowledge invites you to participate actively in a global dialogue and make your voice heard. dropping knowledge means questioning conventional ways of thinking and acting, finding new perspectives and creative solutions. We believe that the exchange of ideas, insights, values and opinions by free voices from all over the world can create a foundation of wisdom that grows, inspires and benefits us all.

How will this work? Bill Joy, who helped fund the effort, says by e-mail that he (and his former Sun Microsystems colleague John Gage) will be participating this Saturday in Berlin

where 112 engaged individuals from all over the world sit at a single table and, simultaneously, each answer 100 questions selected from those submitted by people from around the world to get hundreds of hours of video q+a. This information will then be conceptually indexed to build a “living library” which will be extended over time, of people answering hard questions. Such a library can then become a resource for NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to use in promoting change.

dk combines a number of interesting trends:
1) video
2) semantics on the web
3) use of natural language
4) first person material
5) open source educational materials (copyleft)

Socrates complained about books that you couldn’t ask them questions. Here’s a way to use the Web so that you can ask questions and get spoken responses.

There’s lots more information on the dropping knowledge site.

1 Comment on “Asking Questions for 'Living Library'”

  1. #1 content to be different / The only party in town?
    on Sep 8th, 2006 at 8:41 am

    […] news The Center for Citizen Media points to dropping knowledge, a “meeting and project that challenges the notion that only the media and so-called ‘experts’ can speak out on matters of global relevance.” One of the project’s team explains: “[In Berlin]112 engaged individuals from all over the world sit at a single table and, simultaneously, each answer 100 questions selected from those submitted by people from around the world to get hundreds of hours of video q+a. This information will then be conceptually indexed to build a “living library” which will be extended over time, of people answering hard questions. Such a library can then become a resource for NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to use in promoting change.” […]