From Users to (Sense)Makers: On the Pivotal Role of Stigmergic Social Annotation in the Quest for Collective Sensemaking

From Users to (Sense)Makers: On the Pivotal Role of Stigmergic Social Annotation in the Quest for Collective Sensemaking

In today's platform-centric ecology, user annotations are locked within data silos, serving only to optimize platform growth. However, inspired by the decentralization and open-source software movements, there is a proposal for a socio-technical framework called Open Source Attention (OSA). OSA aims to "free" human attention from platform control by creating a decentralized ecosystem for stigmergic markers, which are the digital traces of human attention.

Stigmergy is a form of communication where the environment acts as a distributed memory. The modifications made by others provide cybernetic feedback, driving the emergence of novel system-level behavior. There are two types of modifications: sematectonic stigmergy, which directly alters the environment state, and stigmergic markers, which serve as signaling cues without directly modifying content. Stigmergic markers can be seen as valuable resources that indicate epistemic value, whether for extractive or constructive purposes.

OSA is similar to the open-source software movement in its aim to "free" stigmergic markers. It starts with basic hypertext primitives such as likes, bi-directional links, span highlighting, semantic categorization, and textual annotation. By introducing interoperable protocols and storage for these primitives, OSA can bootstrap the growth of existing Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) apps for Collective Knowledge Management (CKM). This means that data from diverse PKM apps can be shared to contribute to collective sense-making efforts.

One key question that arises is the scale of these efforts. With massive, well-established platforms dominating the landscape, any proposal for global-scale sense-making must compete with them. However, OSA is naturally congruent with the "protocols, not platforms" approach. Instead of direct competition, OSA can leverage existing PKM growth by introducing interoperable protocols and storage for stigmergic primitives. This enables data from different PKM apps to be shared and contribute to collective sense-making.

In the quest for collective sense-making, there are various tools and behaviors that can aid individuals in linking their thinking. Evernote, for example, is a tool for collecting ideas. It allows users to gather and organize their thoughts, acting as a digital notebook. On the other hand, Ulysses and Bear are tools for writing and building stories out of ideas. They provide a platform for individuals to develop their thoughts and create narratives.

Roam and Obsidian, on the other hand, focus on connecting and organizing ideas. Roam acts as a connector and databaser, allowing users to link their thoughts and create a network of interconnected ideas. Obsidian, on the other hand, serves as both a connector and writer. Users can relate their ideas and thoughts while also building upon them through the act of writing.

To enhance the process of collective sense-making, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace open-source principles: Just as open-source software has revolutionized the tech industry, incorporating open-source principles into the realm of stigmergic markers can lead to a more collaborative and inclusive sense-making process. Encourage the sharing of ideas and the interoperability of tools to foster collective knowledge creation.

2. Foster a culture of annotation: Annotations play a crucial role in stigmergic communication. Encourage users to annotate and highlight relevant information, creating a rich web of interconnected ideas. By valuing and promoting the act of annotation, we can unlock the full potential of stigmergic markers for collective sense-making.

3. Prioritize interoperability: To truly harness the power of collective sense-making, it is essential to prioritize interoperability between different PKM apps. By developing protocols and storage systems that allow for seamless data sharing, we can bridge the gaps between platforms and enable a more cohesive and comprehensive collective knowledge ecosystem.

In conclusion, the role of stigmergic social annotation in the quest for collective sense-making is pivotal. By freeing stigmergic markers from platform control and fostering an ecosystem of interoperable tools and protocols, we can unlock the full potential of human attention and create a more inclusive and collaborative knowledge landscape. Embracing open-source principles, fostering a culture of annotation, and prioritizing interoperability are key steps towards realizing this vision. Let us embark on this journey together, from users to (sense)makers.