Knowledge Management on the Desktop

Abstract

Knowledge management on the desktop is not a recent challenge. It has been around one way or another ever since the desktop emerged as a life (and work)-changing device. It has been around even before that, foreseen by visionaries like Bush, Engelbart and Nelson. Their ideas for solutions have been taken up by many projects in the field of PIM and KM. Semantic Web technologies have been regarded as a game-changer, and applying them to PIM has resulted in the Semantic Desktop. Many Semantic Desktops have been created over time, each focusing on problems specific or generic, on restricted areas like email or task management, or on providing a general solution. Mostly they have not received the uptake they envisioned. This paper describes the representative Semantic Desktop systems. We explore their similarities, and what they do differently; the features they provide, as well as some common shortcomings and sensitive areas.