Human’s advanced abilities in the use of symbols and tools is what makes them so unique, so it is not at all surprising that the discipline that concerns itself with the use of symbols as tools is one that can subsume all other disciplines and encompass the entirety of humanity’s accomplishments. — M. E. Hopper

Communication is a discipline that can subsume all others.

Cosma has a page about communication as a discipline.

The knowledge resources on Cosma are also organized around these elements of communication systems.

Media, Knowledge, Human and Noise

There is a well known hierarchy for describing the content of communication.

DIKW Content Hierarchy

These are the types of content in the hierarchy.

Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom

Cosma focuses on knowledge and wisdom.

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Transportation

The success of the first electronic telegraph line in 1844 opened an era of modern communication.
Before the telegraph there existed no separation between transportation and communication.
Information traveled only as fast as the messenger who carried it. — Daniel J. Czitrom, Media and the American Mind: From Morse to McLuhan

Communication and transportation have been intertwined since the beginning of human history, and they remain closely related today. These are the ways of moving people and content around.

Modes Ground (Cycle, Automobile, Train), Sea, Air, Space

Media

The medium is the message. — M. McLuhan, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man

Media are the means of communication.

Mastering media is essential for effective communication.

Cosma has a page that describes media as a discipline.

Media come in these different formats.

Format Multimedia (Video, Animation) Image (Object) Scent, Flavor, Audio (Text) Haptic, “Other“

Media serve different functions, and those evolved from analog to electronic and then digital.

Function	Communications	Computation	Storage	Creation	Simulation
Analog	Mail	Device	Paper	Type, Print	Automaton
Electronic	Network	Calculator	Tape	Record	Elektro
Digital	Internet	Computer
Hardware	Modem	Microprocessor	Memory	Peripheral	Robot, XR
Software	Service (Web)	Program (OS, SS)	Database	Application	AI, VW

Knowledge

Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty. — J. Bronowski, The Ascent of Man

Cosma has a page about knowledge as a discipline.

Knowledge Resources

Cosma provides a systematic inventory of the best knowledge resources on the Web!

Knowledge Adventures

There are also periodic “posts” about great knowledge resources on the Web.

Knowledge Navigation

Cosma enables spatial “Knowledge Navigation”of the Knowledge Resources inventory hosted on this site. The project is founded upon the premise that when knowledge is intuitively organized, and then presented in a spatial format, everyone can easily master it. That is why this site features Worlds for exploring it.

Knowledge Worlds
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)
Worlds Challenge

Knowledge Forms

Form is supposed to cover the shape or structure of the work; content its substance, meaning, ideas, or expressive effects. — Richard Middleton, Form. Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture

Pages on Cosma have links to knowledge resources organized by this unique classification scheme.

Introduction Discipline
Reference Dictionary, Thesaurus, Glossary, Encyclopedia, Outline, Guide

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Inspiration
Adventure Exploration, Trail, Quest
Imagination Fiction, Whimsy, Wish, Dream, Folly, Hope
Wonder Curiosity, Mystery, Truth, Beauty

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Foundation
Theory
Philosophy Metaphysics, Logic, Epistemology, Ethics, Aesthetics
System, Cycle, Structure, Growth, Complexity, Control, Disturbance, Entropy, Chaos
Process, Manage, Design, Prototype, Implement, Assess, Revise, Maintain

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Innovation Creativity, Mathematics
Science Research, Discovery
Technology Invention, Intellectual Property
Commerce Entrepreneurship, Product

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Preservation Stewardship
History Collection (Classification)
Museum Objects (CCO)
Archive Records (EAD)
Library Resources (DDC, LCC)

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Participation
Education Course
Community Occupation, Organization, Event, Forum, Blog, News, Article, Book
Government Document

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Expression
Entertainment Humor, Toy, Hobby, Competition (Game, Sport), Spectacle
Arts Performing, Visual (Architecture), Culinary, Language (Poem), Music, Dance
Belief Hypothesis, Forecast, Rumor, Superstition, Folklore, Faith

Knowledge Realms

knowledge realm : a kingdom, sphere, or domain for holding the body of information, principles and truth acquired by humankind — M.E. Hopper, Cosma

The bulk of the pages on Cosma are about the stuff that surrounds us. They are organized using a scheme of “realms” assending from the inanimate to animate and then to sentient and beyond.

Use the Zoom page to start exploring the realms.

All realms have geography and chronology.

Geography Navigation, Map
Chronology Calendar, Clock

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Cosmological

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Physical

“Fundamentals”
Law (Constant) Relativity
Force Gravity, Electromagnetism (Light, Color)
Matter (Microscope) Molecule, Atom (Periodic Table), Particle