I think the breakthrough in this "knowledge database" stuff will
occur from a combination of operational definitions that distinguish
clearly between data, information and knowledge and that get away
from the idea of "database" (you can begin to see what I'm pointing
at in the distinctions - we don't call them "knowledgebase") and into
the area of relationship, process and context.
The object oriented stuff is giving us some access and, I think even
more important, is the groupware stuff.
I think we need to take approaches of synthesis rather than analysis
if we are to make headway. By synthesis, I mean that we have a
theory to begin with and then we "play the theory" out rather than
prove or validate it by analysis.
-- Michael McMaster Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk