PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

摘要

Everything has a place in a time-space continuum. I have not met Michael J. Fox in a DeLorean but I have been developing some mental links about time and the IES. Extending that thinking, products, documents, industries and even societies have a defined place in the time-space continuum. To become even more abstract, knowledge also has a place in time and space. This kind of thinking leads to a new way of categorizing knowledge as Past, Current, Near Future and Far Future. 1. Past knowledge is the information, products and techniques that have been used for long periods of time. This might be considered common knowledge because it represents what everyone knows. 2. Current knowledge can be defined as state-of-the art. It includes activities and materials we are using today. This is the knowledge that most people who keep up with the industry are implementing. 3. Near Future knowledge is that which will become Current knowledge within the next three to five years. It might be about new products, new design methods or techniques; knowledge used only by advanced practitioners. 4. Far Future knowledge is that which will not be in full use for over five years. Very few details are available about this kind of activity and very few people are involved. This knowledge defines the future of practice and effort.