THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700


S U M M A R Y


DIARY: April 13, 2000 04:00 PM Thursday; Rod Welch

Meeting on Bootstrap OHS/DKR project at SRI.

1...Summary/Objective
2...Introductions - Diverse Skills Focused on DKR Project
3...Search for "Killer App" Focuses on Knowledge/Enterprise Management
4...Sponsors Looking for Projects in Knowledge Management Arena
5...Legal Issues Arising from Open Source and Sponsor Support
6...Project Objective to Produce DKR Capability
....Knowledge Management Definition
....Editor Based on XML Initial Project Deliverable
....Collaborative Document System and OHS Supported by Editor
....Software Carpentry Open Source for Software Development Tools
....Traction XML Editor Draws on Doug's Vision for "Intelligence"
....Open Source Marketing Model Not Adopted by Traction
....Development Team Uses Traction
....Usefulness Aided by Synergy between Design and Use
....Work Product Showing How Traction Adds Value Will be Submitted
....WBI Strong Transcoding Solution; IBM Supports Open Standards
7...Project "Plan" to Attract Sponsors


..............
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CONTACTS 
0201 - Bootstrap Institute                  510 713 3550
020101 - Mr. Douglas C. Engelbart, Ph.D.
020102 - doug@bootstrap.org
0202 - IBM Almaden Research Center          408 927 1898
020201 - Mr. Michael C. Wirth, Ph.D.; Manager USR Software =408 927 1898
020202 - wirth@almaden.ibm.com
020203 - User Systems Ergonomics Research
0203 - Twisted Systems, Inc.                401 528 1145
020301 - Mr. Chris Nuzum; 401 268 9099
020302 - cjn@twisted-systems.com

SUBJECTS
OHS/DKR Meeting at SRI 000406
Colloquium Unfinished Revolution, 000106

0404 -    ..
0405 - Summary/Objective
0406 -
040601 - Follow up ref SDS 57 0000, ref SDS 50 0000.
040602 -
040603 - Doug provided further background on developing augment concepts in the
040604 - prior period.  Excellent presentations on Software Carpentry, WBI, and
040605 - Traction.  Issues on open source development were presented.
040606 -
040607 -        [On 011102 Chris Nuzum submits a letter with examples of
040608 -        Traction work product, ref SDS 75 0001, including Chris' report
040609 -        on the demonstration at SRI today. ref SDS 75 R66J
040610 -
040611 -
040612 -
0407 -

SUBJECTS
Lincoln, Pat

0504 - Discussion
0505 -
050501 -  ..
050502 - Introductions - Diverse Skills Focused on DKR Project
050503 -
050504 - Follow up ref SDS 57 2079, ref SDS 50 2079.
050505 -
050506 - Pat Lincoln
050507 -
050508 -    Manager of computer or research at SRI.
050509 -
050510 -
050511 -
050512 -
0506 -

SUBJECTS
Sponsor/Stakeholder Planning
Killer Application
Information Overload
Fragility of Knowledge, Fades
Limited Span of Attention Too Many Subjects
Biology Limited Capacity to Think Overwhelms Span of Attention Too Mu
Bumbling Caused by Meaning Drift Murphy's Law
Information Overload Biological Mental Capacity Overwhelmed

1311 -
131101 -  ..
131102 - Search for "Killer App" Focuses on Knowledge/Enterprise Management
131103 - Sponsors Looking for Projects in Knowledge Management Arena
131104 -
131105 - Follow up ref SDS 57 4877, ref SDS 50 4877.
131106 -
131107 - There was no discussion on this subject today.
131108 -
131109 - At the end of the meeting Eric seemed to indicate plans to consider
131110 - this matter at the meeting next week, perhaps including results of
131111 - Doug's meeting with SRI and a major potential sponsor on Monday,
131112 - 000410.
131113 - ..
131114 - Michael Wirth spoke today on WBI. ref SDS 0 5148  He manages...
131115 -
131116 -
131117 -               User Systems Ergonomics Research Software
131118 -
131119 -
131120 - ...at IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, which is creating
131121 - management solutions for information overload.  Since the capacity of
131122 - people is essentially fixed, demand is increasing for ways to identify
131123 - and obtain "relevant" information (see NWO on biological limitations,
131124 - ref OF 3 4925, commonly addressed by 20 80 method reviewed 950426,
131125 - ref SDS 5 4022)  On 970910 problem was explained as...
131126 -
131127 -
131128 -                Executives do not have time to think
131129 -
131130 -
131131 - ...reported at professional event, ref SDS 9 3479, leading to
131132 - Kissinger's formulation that management is an Alice in Wonderland of
131133 - bumbling, reviewed on 940609. ref SDS 4 4238  Techniques based on
131134 - machine learning and graph algorithms are being used to mine documents
131135 - in large hypertext databases for relevance and quality, set out on
131136 - IBM's web page...
131137 -
131138 -
131139 -              http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/k53/ir.html
131140 -
131141 -
131142 - ...which supports Doug's goal for better handling of daily working
131143 - information, as a big part of addressing the knowledge management
131144 - dilemma, set out in his 1972 paper, reviewed recently on 000327.
131145 - ref SDS 47 3971  The DKR team might consider asking Michael to help
131146 - define "information," "knowledge," and "intelligence" in a manner that
131147 - will help identify a meaningful solution.
131148 -
131149 -     [On 000517 definitions developed at Intel. ref SDS 70 4972
131150 -
131151 -     [On 000518 Professor Mary Keeler presented Charles Peirce's work
131152 -     on defining knowledge. ref SDS 71 8439  Project glossary begun.
131153 -     ref SDS 71 3286
131154 -
131155 -
131156 -
131157 -
131158 -
131159 -
1312 -

SUBJECTS
Property Rights in Knowledge Organization
Commercial Viability
Ownership Investment Risk
Development Investment Risk

1807 -
180701 -  ..
180702 - Legal Issues Arising from Open Source and Sponsor Support
180703 -
180704 - Follow up ref SDS 57 3055, ref SDS 50 3055.
180705 -
180706 - There was no discussion on getting a license or other standing
180707 - required to operate, noted at the meeting on 000330. ref SDS 50 3995
180708 -
180709 - Mark Mitchell representing CodeSourcery, in discussing the Software
180710 - Carpentry project, ref SDS 0 2160, advised that there are a lot of
180711 - different legal, ownership and license arrangements made for open
180712 - source development projects, that make the process complicated,
180713 - addressing project planning requirements from meeting on 000324.
180714 - ref SDS 43 3055 and ref SDS 43 7371
180715 -
180716 - This addresses in part action item #10 from record on 000407,
180717 - ref SDS 58 6973, and it aligns with report on 000411 that open source
180718 - ventures have begun to lose their financial appeal, ref SDS 59 2954
180719 - Paul Fernhout reported complexities of this method on 000203.
180720 - ref SDS 25 0001
180721 -
180722 -     [On 000421 Eric Armstrong submits initial ideas for open source
180723 -     license. ref SDS 64 3055
180724 -
180725 -     [On 000422 Paul Fernhout objects to Eric's draft. ref SDS 66 3055
180726 -
180727 -     [On 000423 Eric explains revenue needed to produce useful tools,
180728 -     per Mark's presentation today. ref SDS 67 0784
180729 -
180730 -
180731 -
180732 -
180733 -
1808 -

SUBJECTS
OHS Open Hyperdocument System
OHS Editor XML, Requirements, Specs
Traction Journal Management, 000326
WBI Transcoding, IBM, 000324
Software Programmers Resist Changing Programming Toosl, 000413
Programmers Ignores Industry Work Practices to Save Time
Programmers Resist Adopting Better Tools Methods, 000413
CodeSourcery, 000315
Open Source Other OHS/DKR Type Projects, 000601, Doug
Other DKR Projects Trying to Create OHS
Software Open Source Other OHS/DKR Type Projects, 000601, Doug
Software Tools, 000413
CodeSorcery Software Tools, 000413

3416 -
341601 -  ..
341602 - Project Objective to Produce DKR Capability
341603 -
341604 - Follow up ref SDS 57 2808, ref SDS 50 2808.
341605 -
341606 -
341607 -     ..
341608 -    Knowledge Management Definition
341609 -
341610 -    Follow up ref SDS 57 5555.
341611 -
341612 -    There was no discussion of this subject.  On 000412 submitted this
341613 -    for possible project meeting agenda item for ref SDS 60 0001  On
341614 -    000413 Eric requested summary for discussion at the meeting, but
341615 -    there was not enough time today for this review by the project
341616 -    team.
341617 -
341618 -        [On 000510 Doug was denied support by NSF because proposal did
341619 -        not define knowledge. ref SDS 69 0004
341620 -
341621 -    Opinion and journaling, cited by Jack Park on 000405, as possible
341622 -    application in a dynamic knowledge repository, ref SDS 54 2928, was
341623 -    not discussed today.
341624 -
341625 -    Chris with Twisted Systems seemed to indicate today that Traction
341626 -    is a DKR program that uses journaling methods and manages email.
341627 -    Email often has opinion, so perhaps this addresses Jack's question
341628 -    in part.
341629 -
341630 -
341631 -     ..
341632 -    Editor Based on XML Initial Project Deliverable
341633 -    Collaborative Document System and OHS Supported by Editor
341634 -
341635 -    Follow up ref SDS 57 5880, ref SDS 50 5880.
341636 -
341637 -    Doug Engelbart reviewed design slides showing KM schemes developed
341638 -    in the 60s - 80s, to illustrate the reasoning that led to his
341639 -    outline in the OHS Editor vector shown in his letter on 000405.
341640 -    ref SDS 55 0001
341641 -
341642 -    There did not seem to be explanation or planning detail provided at
341643 -    the meeting today on the OHS Editor vector shown in Doug's letter
341644 -    on 000405, which was planned on 000407. ref SDS 58 0004
341645 -    ..
341646 -    Joe Williams did not present the process flow diagram for the
341647 -    DKR and OHS, supplementing ideas he introduced at the meeting on
341648 -    000330, ref SDS 50 2808, which was considered on 000407 for review
341649 -    today. ref SDS 58 2576
341650 -
341651 -        [On 000418 Joe's presentation scheduled for 000420. ref SDS 62
341652 -        4466
341653 -
341654 -        [On 000420 Joe gave formal presentation. ref SDS 63 5880
341655 -    ..
341656 -    Lee Iverson re-stated the plan to initially produce a program
341657 -    that augments software programming.  This will be used within the
341658 -    Bootstrap framework to produce new applications that augment human
341659 -    capabilities.
341660 -
341661 -     ..
341662 -    Software Carpentry Open Source for Software Development Tools
341663 -
341664 -    Mark Mitchell with CodeSourcery gave an insightful presentation
341665 -    representing the Software Carpentry group working on open source
341666 -    capability to improve software programming.  This reflects planning
341667 -    at the meeting last week on 000406, ref SDS 56 0624, and further
341668 -    cited on 000407 by Eric Armstrong. ref SDS 58 7068
341669 -
341670 -    See also above on legal issues. ref SDS 0 3055
341671 -
341672 -        [On 001017 Mark takes assignment for project management on OHS
341673 -        project to support NIH. ref SDS 72 O25H
341674 -    ..
341675 -    Mark advised that software engineers are relatively more
341676 -    independent in selecting tools and methods.  They cannot be ordered
341677 -    to adopt new methods by management, as in adopting a new accounting
341678 -    or wordprocessing system.  This may make it difficult to introduce
341679 -    a new software program that supports writing software programs, as
341680 -    planned on 000406. ref SDS 56 5078  On 990525 there was information
341681 -    on this point. ref SDS 13 0966
341682 -
341683 -    Eric's idea is to give it away and let people experience advantages
341684 -    in order to set an industry standard, compare the record on 000227,
341685 -    ref SDS 32 1248, and on 000403.
341686 -
341687 -       [On 000427 Lee Iverson submitted use case guidance that warns
341688 -       about challenge of open source development. ref SDS 68 0713
341689 -
341690 -    Setting an industry standard may require significant enhancement or
341691 -    leverage that can attract attention.
341692 -
341693 -    Mark noted open source projects typically achieve 80% solutions.
341694 -
341695 -    The last 20% necessary to support widespread application by end
341696 -    Users is difficult to achieve by open source resources, possibly
341697 -    because developers like to develop new ideas rather than work on
341698 -    details needed to "polish" products needed for completion.  Also,
341699 -    developers are skilled enough to overcome minor defects that baffel
341700 -    end users.
341701 -
341702 -    Software Carpentry seems to be funded by Lawrence Livermore Lab, or
341703 -    a other government agency.  It may relate to developing software
341704 -    for simulating nuclear weapons tests, since actual testing is not
341705 -    being done.
341706 -
341707 -
341708 -
3418 -

SUBJECTS
Traction, Journaling, by Twisted Systems, 000326
Journaling System Recommend Review, Doug Engelbart
Email Organizing System Solves Information Overload Solved by Tractio
Engelbart, Doug Recommends Review Traction for OHS/DKR Support
Team Communication Email Organizing System Solves Information Overloa
Catagory Support OHS/DKR, Eric Armstrong
Demonstrate Traction at SRI on OHS/DKR Support
New Way of Thinking Working Doug's Mission Bootstrap Institute, 99122
XML Editor Draws on Doug Engelbart's Vision for Intelligence
Version Control Transclusion

5213 -
521301 -     ..
521302 -    Traction XML Editor Draws on Doug's Vision for "Intelligence"
521303 -
521304 -    Chris Nuzum demonstrated the Traction program for managing email,
521305 -    reviewed on 000326. ref SDS 46 1350  This accomplishes the action
521306 -    set by Eric on 000327. ref SDS 48 5049  Graphics are excellent; we
521307 -    saw several pictures embedded in documents.
521308 -
521309 -    Traction applies Doug's ideas on "intelligence" cited in his 1992
521310 -    paper reviewed recently on 991222. ref SDS 19 8064  Chris related a
521311 -    research and academic lineage from the 1960s that has influenced
521312 -    development of Traction.
521313 -
521314 -       [On 011102 examples of Traction work product. ref SDS 75 KV6K
521315 -
521316 -    This supports Traction advertising reviewed on 000326. ref SDS 46
521317 -    2820
521318 -
521319 -       [On 000414 Eric Armstrong recommends that the DKR project use
521320 -       Traction for conducting daily business. ref SDS 61 3450
521321 -
521322 -       [On 000418 Traction will be reviewed again at the meeting on
521323 -       000420. ref SDS 62 4176
521324 -    ..
521325 -    Xanadu features reviewed on 000305, ref SDS 33 0001, have
521326 -    been addressed by Traction...
521327 -
521328 -                •  Summary
521329 -                •  Versioning
521330 -                •  Linking
521331 -
521332 -    Eric asked if Traction supports transclusions called out in Xanadu?
521333 -    ref SDS 33 3819  Chris seemed to indicate that Traction supports
521334 -    transclusions.  There was no explanation nor example demonstrated
521335 -    showing how this capability saves time or money.
521336 -
521337 -        [On 000414 Eric asked about scope of trasclusions. ref SDS 61
521338 -        0006
521339 -
521340 -        [On 000418 Chris submits comments to questions, ref SDS 62
521341 -        5850, examples of work product needed to demonstrate inline
521342 -        linking and transclusion. ref SDS 62 P4E6
521343 -
521344 -    Procedure to create links was not demonstrated.
521345 -
521346 -        [On 000414 Eric asks about replacing a summary hierarchy of a
521347 -        discussion chain to make a knowledge repository. ref SDS 61
521348 -        6988
521349 -
521350 -        [On 000418 Chris confirmed Traction does this. ref SDS 62 6988
521351 -
521352 -        [On 000418 Chris confirmed Traction supports "drag and drop"
521353 -        procedure for creating links, using IE. ref SDS 62 5974
521354 -    ..
521355 -    User's can tag paragraphs in a document with one or possibly
521356 -    multiple subjects.  Chris said examples of subjects are...
521357 -
521358 -                •  email
521359 -                •  follow up
521360 -                •  marketing
521361 -
521362 -    On 000327 Eric Armstrong cited Traction's capability to catagorize
521363 -    aligns with objectives for the DKR project. ref SDS 48 1350
521364 -    ..
521365 -    Michael Wirth with IBM (see above, ref SDS 0 4822) asked if
521366 -    subjects are hierarchial or flat?
521367 -    ..
521368 -    Chris may have indicated Traction uses hierarchial subjects
521369 -    which can become complex structures, see POIMS, ref OF 1 0561, and
521370 -    review on 910418. ref SDS 1 5584
521371 -
521372 -    Traction provides three (3) buttons for summary and functions that
521373 -    can tag paragraphs in a document.
521374 -
521375 -        [On 000414 Eric asks about replacing a summary hierarchy of a
521376 -        discussion chain to make a knowledge repository. ref SDS 61
521377 -        6988
521378 -
521379 -        [On 000422 Joe Williams DKR design seems to contemplate
521380 -        summarizing or hierarchial structures. ref SDS 65 0918
521381 -
521382 -
521383 -
5214 -

SUBJECTS
Open Source Not Marketing Model Adopted by Traction, Chris

5304 -
530401 -     ..
530402 -    Open Source Marketing Model Not Adopted by Traction
530403 -
530404 -    Chris advised that he and his partners have invested a lot in
530405 -    Traction, and are naturally looking for ways to market the product.
530406 -
530407 -    It is not open source.
530408 -
530409 -    Because Doug Engelbart has contributed to the ideas that led to the
530410 -    program, Twisted Systems is sympathetic to the SRI project, and
530411 -    would be willing to discuss terms and conditions for making source
530412 -    code available.
530413 -
530414 -
530415 -
530416 -
5305 -

SUBJECTS
Synergy Design and Application Help Make Traction Useful

5404 -
540401 -     ..
540402 -    Development Team Uses Traction
540403 -    Usefulness Aided by Synergy between Design and Use
540404 -
540405 -    A big endorsement of Traction is evident use of the program
540406 -    by the developers for performing their daily work.  This aligns
540407 -    with Doug's bootstrap concept for using tools to figure out how to
540408 -    improve them. ref SDS 45 5972
540409 -
540410 -        [On 000414 Eric recalled that Traction has been used by the
540411 -        design team to support product development. ref SDS 61 9477
540412 -
540413 -
540414 -
540415 -
5405 -

SUBJECTS
Work Product Showing Traction Adds Value to Meeting on 000413 Will be

5504 -
550401 -     ..
550402 -    Work Product Showing How Traction Adds Value Will be Submitted
550403 -
550404 -    Chris was asked how "intelligence" on the meeting today might
550405 -    be captured and managed by Traction?  There was not enough time for
550406 -    this demonstration; however, Chris strongly noted that this is the
550407 -    way Traction is applied day-to-day.
550408 -    ..
550409 -    When time permits, Chris can submit a record on the meeting
550410 -    today connected to background that led to his presentation, e.g.,
550411 -    discussions with Doug or Eric; whatever is available that does not
550412 -    compromise company interests.  This will illustrate how daily
550413 -    working information is processed by Traction.
550414 -
550415 -        [On 011031 Eric Armstrong reported seeing Traction work
550416 -        product, but cannot remember where it can be seen. ref SDS 74
550417 -        OE9G
550418 -
550419 -        [On 011102 Chris Nuzum submits a letter with examples of
550420 -        Traction work product, ref SDS 75 0001, including Chris' report
550421 -        on the demonstration at SRI today. ref SDS 75 R66J
550422 -    ..
550423 -    It would help to get a list of subject tags applied to the
550424 -    record.
550425 -
550426 -       [On 000418 Traction will be reviewed again at the meeting on
550427 -       000420, and so can address these issues. ref SDS 62 4176
550428 -
550429 -
550430 -
550431 -
5505 -

SUBJECTS
Transcoding, 000405
IBM WBI Transcoding, 000324
Open Source Development Freeware
Open Standards Supports Market for Competition

6207 -
620701 -     ..
620702 -    WBI Strong Transcoding Solution; IBM Supports Open Standards
620703 -
620704 -    Follow up ref SDS 55 6006, ref SDS 43 7568.
620705 -
620706 -    Michael Wirth with the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose,
620707 -    CA...
620708 -
620709 -
620710 -               http://www.almaden.ibm.com/almaden/
620711 -
620712 -
620713 -
620714 -    ...explained WBI as a "pipe" that translates information into
620715 -    different formats.  IBM's web page...
620716 -
620717 -
620718 -               http://www.almaden.ibm.com/almaden/wtp_press.html
620719 -
620720 -
620721 -    ...says WBI is an acronymn for...
620722 -
620723 -
620724 -                    WebSphere Transcoding Publisher
620725 -
620726 -
620727 -    ...translates Web data, enabling access to the Web on different
620728 -    devices, including cellular telephones and hand-held personal
620729 -    digital assistants (PDAs).  WBI makes it easy for companies to
620730 -    build services that help people fill in forms, protect personal
620731 -    data, and receive personalized Web information, etc. Intermediaries
620732 -    act like "smart pipes," giving developers a standard way to
620733 -    monitor, edit, and generate information flowing between consumers
620734 -    and eBusinesses to provide value added services.
620735 -
620736 -    Michael advised that IBM supports Open Standards, but not Open
620737 -    Source for WBI at this time.
620738 -
620739 -    WBI can be downloaded for free from...
620740 -
620741 -
620742 -                 http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/
620743 -
620744 -
620745 -    See, also, above on inviting Michael to help define knowledge
620746 -    management as a predicate to building a DKR. ref SDS 0 4822
620747 -
620748 -      [On 000420 Eric Armstrong cites concerns about WBI. ref SDS 63
620749 -      3995
620750 -
620751 -      [On 001025 multiple views incorporated into OHS launch plan.
620752 -      ref SDS 73 D6H8
620753 -
620754 -
620755 -
6208 -

SUBJECTS
Project Planning, Objectives
Plan Needed for Guidance
Management and Governance

6606 -
660601 -  ..
660602 - Project "Plan" to Attract Sponsors
660603 -
660604 - Follow up ref SDS 57 6036, ref SDS 50 6036.
660605 -
660606 - There was no discussion of the project plan.
660607 -
660608 -
660609 -
660610 -
660611 -
Distribution. . . . See "CONTACTS"