Cosma / Documentation / About
Cosmos : Greek kosmos (masculine) an orderly harmonious systematic universe – M. Webster
Cosma : Greek kosma (feminine) an orderly harmonious systematic description of the universe — M. E. Hopper
Cosma is an initiative to create an inventory of the best knowledge resources in the world with neat ways to navigate and explore them.1
Content is King
Cosma provides structured access to a systematic, top-down inventory of some of the world’s most valuable, interesting and entertaining Knowledge Resources. There are hundreds of pages, and each one features hand picked links to subject specific resources. There are also customized links to database driven resources that can be accessed with URLs that use consistent search strings (e.g. Webster, Britannica, WorldCat etc.). All of the links on the pages are organized by a unique classification scheme named Knowledge Forms that was developed exclusively for Cosma.
Knowledge Navigation
Cosma has a number of 3D interfaces that enable truly spatial Knowledge Navigation and invite exploration of the Knowledge Resources inventory hosted on this site as well as “visual links” to 3D and 360° experiences on other sites.
Web Worlds are currently the main type of 3D interface that you will find on Cosma.
This is Cosma’s main Welcome Area were you can start your journey into knowledge!
Touch posters and objects to find out about them or visit other worlds.
You can also explore it on Kuula.
If you click on the (not very well hidden) trap door, you will find yourself in this Web World that is an exhibit about Cosma’s history.
You can also explore it on Kuula.
The Web World below is a special one with links to many of the others that you can find distributed across this Web site. You can use it to find hundreds of immersive 3D and 360° experiences to explore!
Click on the objects to see 3D and 360° experiences, and click doorways to go to other Web Worlds which also feature objects and doorways with links to 3D and 360° experiences.
You can also see it directly on Kuula.
You can find out on the Web Worlds page and in the post Hike, Wander & Walk-in the Web!
The above examples are just the latest experiments with creating 3D interfaces to enable truly spatial Knowledge Navigation of the Knowledge Resources hosted on the Cosma Web site.
Dr. M.E. Hopper has experimented with creating many different 2D visual and 3D spatial interfaces with a variety of software platforms since the 1980s. She first conceptualized making these types of interfaces while playing with a “Star Trek” like game on PLATO in the mid-1970s. The first generation of functional experiments were created with Apple’s HyperCard that ran in color on an Apple IIGS with ProDOS. Since that time experimental interfaces have been created with most “hypermedia” software that could support making such interfaces.2
This is a timeline of the evolution of interfaces.
PLATO (1976-1980)
HyperCard (1987 – 1994)
Director (1988 – 1990)
PowerPoint (1990 – 1991)
HyperStudio (1991 – 2005)
MicroWorlds (1994 – 2005)
SecondLife (2006 – Present)
Unity 3D (2015 – 2017)
RoundMe (2017 – 2022)
Kuula (2022 – Present)
Learn more on the Worlds Challenge page.
More to see and do!
There are a number of other ways to Explore Cosma.
For example, there are Adventures in Knowledge which are “posts” that highlight awesome and timely resources. They also usually include immersive 360° YouTube videos.
You can also browse a visual Showcase of popular sample pages.
If you would like to see a complete description of what is on the site, then take a look at the Contents and Index pages.
Of course, for other important information, be sure to check out the FAQ and Credits pages.
Finally, Cosma uses a “embedded and distributed” Documentation approach. There are passages and footnotes about the project distributed across the pages on this site in the context where they are relevant. In addition, they are also gathered together in one place on the Notes page, so that page is a cumulative and evolving collection of clippings about the history, theory and structure of Cosma.
Thank you for your interest, and please share Cosma with your friends! It is free, and there is something for everybody. There is far more to see and do than anyone can see in a single visit, and more things are added all of the time, so visit often and wander the Web!
Enjoy!
Dr. Mary E. Hopper, Cosma’s Creator & Curator
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These are links to some key pages.
DIKW Content Hierarchy
Content, Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom
Communication Systems
Cosma provides access to Knowledge Resources organized around the elements of communication systems.
Media, Knowledge, Human and Noise
Knowledge Objects (K-Objects)
Knowledge Places (K-Places)
Knowledge Gates to Second Life (K-Gates, Alpha)
Knowledge Palace (K-Palace, Beta)
Knowledge Paradise (K-Paradise, K-Places 1.0)
Toy Worlds (post)
Web Worlds (post)
Worlds Challenge
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1. Cosma is just the most recent iteration of a project that has been evolving for decades, and it’s based upon years of R&D in information, knowledge and communication systems. It’s been a long and winding road — here are some pointers to some stops along the way …
Hopper, M. E. (1993). Purdue Knowledge System. HyperCard, HyperNews, Gopher and World Wide Web Prototype. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Hopper, M. E. (1993). Educational Courseware Production in Advanced Computing Environments. Doctoral Dissertation. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Hopper, M. E. (1993). Expert’s Views about Courseware Development in Advanced Computing Environments [Abstract]. Proceedings of ED-MEDIA 93 – Conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 607.
Hopper, M. E. (1998, October). Hypertext in Historical Context: Vannevar Bush and Ted Nelson revisited. Media-in-Transition Project / Communications Forum, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Hopper, M. E. (1999, October). A Project About Projects: Watching Academic E-Media Projects Evolve [Presentation]. Media in Transition: An International Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Hopper, M. E. (1999, December). MIT E-Knowledge System: A Systematic Approach to Improving Academic Enterprises at MIT and Beyond [Proposal]. Submitted to iCampus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Hopper, M. E. (2000, January). Knowledge systems 101: From Alexandria to Hitchhiker’s Guide. Independent Activity Period, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Hopper, M. E. (2007, April). The Knowledge Gates to SecondLife. Media in Transition 5 Conference: Creativity, Ownership and Collaboration in the Digital Age, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
Hopper, M. E. (2009, April). Cosma: Constructing a Kingdom of Knowledge. Media in Transition 6 Conference: Stone and Papyrus, Storage and Transmission, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.