A Human-Computer Interaction Framework for Media-Independent Knowledge

1 This position paper looks toward the future possibility of storing knowledge in a way that is independent of any media and modalities and of producing a variety of presentations and interactive displays in different media and multi-media combinations, all from the same stored knowledge. Different users may have personal preferences for some modes of interaction, different learning styles that favor one mode over another, or disabilities that prevent the use of some modes. The general problem of storing modality-independent knowledge and, from it, generating rich and compelling interactive displays in a variety of forms is unsolved. In this position paper, we begin to attack it by dividing the problem into pieces, proposing a framework within which progress might be made, and describing some partial solutions as a starting point for research.