Desktop Data Silos
A lot of people have developed extensive work arounds for organizing data on their desktops. They spend hours putting e-mails into folders, sorting files into directories, organizing bookmarks, and searching for information on their desktop. The downsides is that almost nobody can share their personal organizational system and even if they could, nobody else could make sense of it. The topic based categorization used is usually unintelligible. As a result, the organizational leverage from personal filing systems = nearly 0.
The great thing about K-Logging is it allows individuals to post those items that are most important to their work onto the Intranet where they can be utilized by everyone. In addition to written thoughts, you could post files (docs and media) with annotations, forward critical e-mails, provide useful links, and more. Further, those posts are organized over time with the most recent items on the front page and the rest in a handy calendar-based archive. To find things, all you need to do is utilize a Web search service.
The ability to SHARE critical data and information is essential to getting productivity improvements out of current technology investments. K-Logging makes it simple. It breaks down desktop data silos without much effort by automating the publishing process. It also presents a unified method of understanding the organization of the information presented (time).
Hey, we all have our unique filing schemes. They have one common attribute: they are unique. In time, I suspect that people will begin to organize their data over time on their desktop with a K-Logging tool and only selectively publish items to their Intranet or public K-Logs (categories make this an easy process — just click where you want it to go, and it goes there).
In terms of interface, the fact that a K-Log system is built using dynamic Web pages means that it is easy for corporations and individuals to modify the layout of the tool based on need. A good dynamic Web app has an order of magnitude more configurability and customizability available to it than a classic Windows or Mac app. Further, I individually, would have the option of including macros and other functionality in my K-Log that provides specific functionality as needed (at almost a drag and drop level of simplicity). The key to understanding this is that K-Logs are based on content management systems (CMS). A desktop CMS lets individuals modify their interface and functionality to their hearts content if they are motivated to do so. [John Robb's Radio Weblog]