Information, knowledge, and networked minds

Knowledge is often seen as information with specific properties; information is viewed as a kind of preliminary stage to knowledge. Given this apparent relationship of information and knowledge it is tempting to apply computer-based information management techniques, such as information retrieval and information filtering, to the management of knowledge as well. A closer look, however, reveals that the effectiveness of computer-based tools is already limited in the information management domain. In order to circumvent similar limitations in the knowledge management domain, we suggest considering humans as scaffolding minds and applying tools in such a way that human cognitive and social capabilities are supported. Examples discussed range from social navigation and collaborative filtering to support for virtual communities of practice.