Knowledge can refer to mere information, but it also encompasses abstracting and synthesizing laws and information.
Furthermore, I refer to comprehensive and highly consistent knowledge that abstractly integrates multiple pieces of information from various angles, including laws, as "crystallized knowledge."
Here, I will use the physical explanation of flight as an example to illustrate what crystallized knowledge is. Then, I will explain my thoughts on the crystallization and application of knowledge.
Flight
Having wings creates resistance against gravitational descent.
Furthermore, a portion of the downward force due to gravity is converted into propulsive force for forward motion via the wings.
This forward propulsion then creates a relative airflow. Lift is generated by the different air speeds above and below the wing.
If this lift is roughly equivalent to gravity, gliding becomes possible.
Gliding does not require energy. However, gliding alone invariably leads to descent. Therefore, flight also necessitates using energy to fly.
If a wing capable of gliding is present, external energy can be utilized for flight.
One method is the use of updrafts. By receiving the energy of an updraft with the wings, a direct upward force can be gained.
Another external energy source is headwinds. The energy of a headwind can be converted into lift by the wings, similar to propulsive force.
Flight is also possible through self-generated energy.
Helicopters convert energy into lift through their rotating blades.
Airplanes convert energy into propulsion through the rotation of propellers, indirectly generating lift.
Birds convert energy into upward force and propulsion through flapping.
The Role of Wings
Organizing it this way, it becomes clear that wings are intimately involved in flight.
Since rotary wings and propellers are also rotating wings, helicopters, which might not seem to have wings, are also utilizing wings. Airplanes, furthermore, utilize two types of wings, including propellers.
Wings have the following roles:
- Air Resistance: Mitigating gravity and converting updrafts into upward force.
- Force Direction Conversion: Converting gravity into propulsive force.
- Airflow Differential Generation: Creating air speed differences to generate lift.
Therefore, the performance related to flight is determined by the wing's area for generating air resistance, its angle relative to gravity, and its structure for creating airflow differentials.
Organizing it this way reveals that the wing encapsulates all aspects of flight in a single shape. In addition, the wing is responsible for all aspects: gliding without energy, utilizing external energy, and utilizing internal energy.
Consequently, the wing is an embodiment of the phenomenon of flight itself.
On the other hand, by understanding the various elements of flight consolidated in this wing, it is also possible to design systems where functions are separated and combined according to aspects and situations.
Based on the understanding derived from bird wings, it becomes possible to conceive of flight systems that are easier to manufacture and design from an engineering perspective.
Airplanes can achieve a flight system different from birds by dividing functions into main wings, tail wings, and propellers because they performed such an organization and then separated the necessary functions into different parts.
Crystallization of Knowledge
I have explained flight and wings, but what I've written here does not contain any particularly new insights or discoveries regarding scientific principles or industrial products. It is all well-known knowledge.
On the other hand, from the perspective of combining and associating these pieces of knowledge, or viewing them in terms of similarity and analogy, some ingenuity can be observed. Perhaps it includes novel explanations or viewpoints, or has novelty in emphasizing specific points.
In other words, there is potential for novelty in the method of organizing existing knowledge.
However, by thoroughly pursuing the relationships and similarities of these pieces of knowledge and revealing the close connection between the phenomenon of flight and the structure of wings, the concluding section contains something like a focal point of knowledge, transcending a mere collection of known knowledge or its organized association.
From the perspective of refining such combinations of knowledge, discovering these focal points, and articulating them, I believe this text possesses novelty.
I would like to call this refinement of knowledge combinations and the discovery of focal points "crystallization of knowledge."
If novelty is recognized in this text, it would mean successful new crystallization of knowledge.
Knowledge Gem Box
It's often discussed that organizations need to move from relying on individual know-how for work to enabling work independent of specific people.
In doing so, it's said to be important to create a knowledge base by articulating and collecting the know-how held by experienced members.
"Knowledge" here refers to documented knowledge. "Base" has the same nuance as in "database." A database organizes data in an easily usable form. A knowledge base also organizes documented knowledge.
Here, it's crucial to consider knowledge base creation in two steps. The first is extracting and gathering a large amount of knowledge.
At this stage, it's fine for it to be unorganized; the goal is simply to collect quantity. Then, the collected knowledge is organized.
Dividing it into these steps breaks down the difficulty of building a knowledge base into two problems, making it easier to approach.
I call the collection of knowledge gathered in this first step a "knowledge lake." This naming is based on its similarity to the term "data lake" from data warehouse-related technologies.
Now, that was a long preamble, but let's return to the discussion of the novelty in organizing airplanes and wings.
When there's no novelty from the perspective of existing scientific principles or industrial product knowledge, it means that if you break down the knowledge contained in my text, everything already exists within the knowledge lake.
And when there's a little novelty in the associations or similarities, it means that the relationships and structures between the pieces of knowledge appearing in my text have parts that fit into existing links or networks within the knowledge base, and parts where new links or networks can be formed.
Furthermore, the likelihood that my text has novelty in terms of knowledge crystallization suggests the existence of a hierarchy separate from the knowledge lake and knowledge base, which I call the "knowledge gem box." If the crystallized knowledge from my text is not yet included in the knowledge gem box, then it can be said to have novelty.
Knowledge Toolbox
Knowledge crystals, those crystallized pieces of knowledge added to the knowledge gem box, are not merely interesting or intellectually captivating.
Just as mineral resources can be applied to various uses, knowledge crystals, once their properties and applications are discovered, possess practical value.
In the example of flight and wings, I stated that this understanding could be applied to the design of flight systems.
By deepening the understanding of knowledge crystals and processing them into something with practical applications, they transform from something to be admired within a gem box into tools that engineers can utilize.
This suggests the existence of a layer called the knowledge toolbox. And it's not just mechanical engineers designing industrial products who master the knowledge toolbox. That's because it's not a mechanical engineer's toolbox, but a knowledge engineer's toolbox.
Conclusion
We already possess a vast amount of knowledge. Some of it is unorganized like a knowledge lake, while some is structured like a knowledge base.
And from there, knowledge has been crystallized and even turned into tools. However, there are likely many cases where knowledge remains unarticulated, like know-how only existing in someone's mind, or where no one has yet been able to crystallize or tool it.
The example of flight and wings strongly suggests this.
Even with well-known knowledge already in knowledge lakes or knowledge bases, there should be numerous opportunities to refine and crystallize it, thereby creating useful knowledge tools.
Discovering such knowledge crystals does not require scientific observation, additional experiments, or accumulating physical experience.
This means one does not need to be an expert, possess special skills, or have special rights. Just like with flight and wings, by simply organizing and refining knowledge that is already known or discovered through research, these crystals can be found.
This signifies the democratization of knowledge. Anyone can attempt this crystallization. Furthermore, artificial intelligence, which does not have a physical body, can be fully utilized.
By increasing the number of knowledge crystals and tools in the knowledge gem box and toolbox in this way, we may eventually reach places that many once thought unattainable.
Surely, with the wings of knowledge, we will be able to fly through skies beyond imagination.