Graph-based Tools for Thought are currently not optimizing for the Narrative Interface and for constraints as a tool for synthesis and transmission of understanding.
The WHAT now?
I'm still working this out so don't have better phrasing for this yet, but:
The WHAT now?
I'm still working this out so don't have better phrasing for this yet, but:
At my dayjob I'm currently writing a one-pager for the new CEO explaining the need for and background of a ~digitalization initiative (details unimportant).
Today another department head and I sat together for four hours writing this and we're still not finished.
Today another department head and I sat together for four hours writing this and we're still not finished.
We're laboring over every sentence to be maximally information-dense while also trying to remain comprehensible for someone with little context.
It's difficult, but it's also super fun.
AND it's a great reminder: infinite outliners with backlinks aren't perfect for everything.
It's difficult, but it's also super fun.
AND it's a great reminder: infinite outliners with backlinks aren't perfect for everything.
I talked about this with @ejames_c a couple of months ago: humans learn through narrative, through ~linear exposure of information.
Sure, I could put all my knowledge of the organisation into some sort of knowledge graph and tell the new boss "have fun". But would that help?
Sure, I could put all my knowledge of the organisation into some sort of knowledge graph and tell the new boss "have fun". But would that help?
In addition, forcing ourselves to write a one-pager instead of giving ourselves unlimited space is really powerful in sharpening our thinking.
Can't count how often we've pulled back and said "what do we actually want to say here?"
Infinite outlines don't have this constraint.
Can't count how often we've pulled back and said "what do we actually want to say here?"
Infinite outlines don't have this constraint.
Now of course: instead of a "flat" document, we could write this as a hypertext where ever condensed paragraph can be expanded into sub-bullets or links to other things.
But this doesn't take away the need for the narrative interface or the initial constraint of one page!
But this doesn't take away the need for the narrative interface or the initial constraint of one page!
I guess what I want to say/wish for is for #TfT's to provide "overlay interfaces" that let me impose constraints on myself.
I _love_ writing Twitter threads because the character limit is such a brilliant constraint – I want this in @tana_inc etc. as an option.
I _love_ writing Twitter threads because the character limit is such a brilliant constraint – I want this in @tana_inc etc. as an option.
In any case – I'd be curious what y'all think about this!
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Follow @cortexfutura for more musings on Tools for Thought and knowledge management :)
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