An article in Forbes (How to Be a Pack Rat)
describes knowledge management research underway at Microsoft. As
described in this article, I wonder if MS really understands KM.
The
article describes a research project called MyLifeBits, designed to
store everything a user has ever created or viewed. Discussing the
challenge of searching so much data, the article reports that
“The problem is twofold. First, you have to label it
properly going in. Then you need to be able to search to find it at the
other end–and quickly. Microsoft may have solved that problem with
MyLifeBits software, still in development, which is letting users
annotate their stored data with hyperlinks and voice notatations [sic],
while automatically recording web pages, IM transcripts, radio and
television. The software also makes it easier to sort and query the
database. The key to archiving files is to tag and index files
intelligently”
Anyone involved in KM understands the
challenge of tagging and indexing files intelligently. UK law firms
have invested substantial human resources in this process; US firms are
focusing on automated solutions. It is clear that most users will not
invest the time to tag and index documents. A random search of most any
law firm’s document or file management system reveals numerous
documents with cryptic titles, which shows that even when users MUST
provide information, its value for finding and re-use may not be high.
A
KM solution that presumes users will tag, index, or annotate items
seems destined for failure. A couple of asides on this. First, the idea
of voice notations seems counter-productive as there is no way to skim
them quickly. And second, Apple’s new Tiger operating system, reported
on extensively yesterday, received a rave review by Walter Mossberg of
the Wall Street Journal for its operating system level full-text search
capability.
[Strategic Legal Technology]