From Curation to Creation

Content is the lifeblood of all organisations. In the past our focus has been on the curation of old knowledge but today, in the web 2.0 age, we focus on the creation of new knowledge. In our digital world markets develop and innovation happens in the digital space between individuals and organisations.

Starting with innovative research in document management and portal technology the Computiv practice has developed to embrace commercial and the leading Open Source content management products [Wordpress, Drupal and Alfresco]. Our technology practice warns us of the radical changing economics of access and our response is to favour licence free, widely applicable technologies. Simply to exclude content on the basis of cost is foolhardy and to use proprietary systems narrow.

Current activity is looking at how re-mixing is re-defining information use. From a scientific background we recognise publishing as a way of sharing the works of the newton, and the scientific journal club was the classic way of discussing (re-mixing) their work. Today however re-mixing is at more immediate and granualar level – blogs, tweets and video. But few institutions recognise the need to embrace and exploit this content – internally and externally.

Whilst this may appear as a good theory the biggest barrier is good practice. Our work helps institutions implement fully inclusive digital strategy, landmark research projects such as TWOLER inform this work and our experience in operational IT makes it happen.