A framework for personal knowledge management tools

The article that I have just read is divided on seven categories:

• Accessing information and ideas
• Evaluating information and ideas
• Organizing information and ideas
• Analyzing information and ideas
• Conveying information and ideas
• Collaborating around information and ideas
• Securing information and ideas

Accessing information and ideas

In this paragraph author presents three different ways of accessing information. First one is that people can access information by locating, identifying, retrieving and viewing documents and data to gain knowledge contained in it. Second one is using computer and Internet for desktop and network search applications like: SERglobalBrain or Copernic’s. The third one is simply contacting people who have required knowledge we need by for example: e-mail or mobile phone.

Evaluating information and ideas

In this section author claims that nowadays in the Internet you can find many different information but unfortunately its quality is diverse. Sometimes is better sometimes worse. The problem is that processing mass of information requires judgment and sometimes even intuition. So it is quite difficult to automate this process. However there are some services like Alexa or Google who use their algorithms to rank results by how many other trusted sites link to one we search.

Organizing information and ideas

There are many different way to organize your information. Some people write journals, diaries or dictate to a voice recorder. It is very important to do it in such way that you can easily access it later. So you can digitalize it for example. But if you want to all of it have any sense you should use special tools which search, categorize and index all your data. It is worth to mention about few of them: Enfish, Wintility, Mindjet or PersonalBrain.

Analyzing information and ideas

We can analyze information by advanced use of applications like spreadsheets, visualizations and prototyping software like: Copernic Summarizer or Quick View Plus.

Conveying information and ideas

There are several ways you can share your knowledge with others. You can for example some very common tools like Microsoft Office which will help you to make some spreadsheets, presentation, websites to teach, present and share your knowledge with others. Here are some additional tool like: Office Advantage and Pro Presentations.

Collaborating around information and ideas

To gain more knowledge you should collaborate with other people. You can do it by using technology for example by messaging, shared workspaces, chat applications, brainstorming software or maybe tele – or videoconferencing. Example of applications: NetMeeting, Groove.

Securing information and ideas

Information, your work or data have a great value (not only sentimental but also “$”) for its owners and users. So it is very important to keep it away from viruses or people who can try to steel it like hackers. The idea is to use your computer wisely and buy applications which can protect it.