A new article I wrote

http://hyperworlds.org/SeparateOrderChaos.html

Keeping Things Separate, Order and Chaos

by Jack Seay - Oct. 15, 2006 - freely distributable

In earlier articles, I condensed the key features (qualities) of
Xanadu to two concepts: 1. keep all versions, and 2. separate content
from presentation (formatting, views, dimensions, etc.). Perhaps even
these two could be distilled even further: "keep things separate to
maximize edit-ability and reuse". Keep all versions of a document. In
Xanadu, this doesn't mean each version in a separate file. This would
hinder version comparison and editing. By transcluding every version
from a common permascroll, it becomes much easier to trace every part
to it's origins and linkages to all other transcluded locations of
it. If you have ever used a modern photo, animation, audio, or video
editing program, you will no doubt know the value of having access to
the source file(s), because of it's layers, timelines, overlaid
effects, etc. This allows for changes to be more easily made for a
variety of end uses. Xanadu proposes to allow the same capabilities
to not only these media types, but text as well. By keeping
formatting separate, not embedded (flattened), it becomes easier to
edit one document, then have it formatted in a variety of ways
(without having to re-edit the same things in each format). Applying
the timeline concept to text facilitates version comparison.

By keeping links separate, they can be made both unbreakable and
2-way. A document can be kept continually linked to it's previous and
future versions, reviews, comments, corrections, etc. Also by keeping
links separate, you will not be limited to only one set of links to/
from a document. Links can be typed and have attached descriptions,
and put into any needed grouping. Hypertext, especially Xanadu, is
often referred to as chaotic. While there is an element of truth to
this, I think what Xanadu really facilitates is any combination of
chaos and order desired. Links can point to an index (a
classification system), but not to just one. There will be no
"official" index endorsed by Xanadu, although there may be methods of
recommending the ones users find useful. If you view total chaos as a
random conglomeration of characters (gibberish) with links created
randomly; and you view total order as a single imposed order and
categorization of all documents - then Xanadu falls somewhere between
these extremes. Anyone will be able to create an ongoing web of links
showing the relationships of documents. Any group of people can do
the same, if they wish, and any dissenting opinions among members of
that group can be in separate, overlapping versions of the index (or
just annotated). Any individual or group can choose any existing
organization as a starting point for further annotation, linking, and
categorization. Thus, categories won't cease to exist, but instead,
there will be many, not just one, set of categories. And these will
live in a continual state of change as 2-way links, format sets,
documents, and versions are added to the pool of knowledge and
creativity. Even this document could be reorganized many different
ways, parts of it reordered, made into a variety of outlines or mind-
maps, linked to other documents in a variety of ways (including all
types of media).

Parallel physical universes may be debatable, but parallel
conceptual universes will become a reality with Xanadu and zigzag,
together called Floating World. Zigzag will provide the means of
compositing the many separate layers of Xanadu into any combination
desired. This will be done by each end user of the software:
selecting, displaying, and editing the set of documents, versions,
formats, and views needed for their purposes. This will affect the
way education happens, since it could allow for an individual to
become educated specifically to achieve knowledge in the ways that
best meets their needs. No more mass production, assembly line
methods trying to vainly stamp out cloned minds (in a limited number
of categories). Deciding what needs to be learned is a dynamic
process, based on an individual's changing knowledge, abilities, and
talents, and constantly modified by the continuous addition to the
world's ocean of knowledge and creative documents (in every type of
media). A student's needs and desires for personal growth and goals
for the future are constantly being updated, and "education" needs to
accommodate this. Total chaos in the world could be thought of as a
war where every person is an army of one trying to kill everyone
else. It is not a desirable condition. Total order would be a world
of identical robots. Also, not desirable. The key is a maintainable
growing accumulation of documents, keeping all the parts and allowing
assembly into any useful or needed form.



Everything comes at a price. If you're not paying it, someone else is.
Jack Seay - hyperworlds.org - replacing the web