|
Via Knowledge are experts in innovations associated with information and communications. We specialize in new ways of storing, accessing and communicating information for specific commercial and artistic objectives. We are information designers. And our markets are libraries, collections, health services and any large information repository whether text, sound or visual.
Via Knowledge is a knowledge management consultancy with a focus on the social elements of digital technologies and the semantic web. We like to think of ourselves as experts in making technology work for people and we put a lot of time into defining user perspectives on work routines, particularly research work, prior to looking at ICT development issues.
At one end of the scale our company has the competence to plan and design innovative technology projects. We've done it in satellite communications and we've done it for local electronic village halls, small gateway facilities for local communities. We've worked on the first electronic newsrooms and on the latest in digital strategies; organised workshops, written best practice guidelines, evaluated technologies, especially where digital content is concerned.
Via Knowledge has also been responsible for the development of concepts around ubiquitous access to information and has a solid research background in converging technologies. We have worked in broadcast TV, satellite channel planning, library digitisation, text mark-up, and browser development (both conventional web browsers and voice browsers). The company has a specific interest in converged technologies. In a world where broadcasting, cable, telephony and IT come together, winners and losers in the service/technical domain will be heavily influenced by strategies adopted by major infrastructure and content providers. We have an interest in understanding these dynamics.
Via Knowledge also has an active interest in the effects of uncertainty on technology take-up and the macro-economic environment for innovation. In this context Via has experience in researching global science and technology issues, global investment patterns, and science and technology policy. We have acted in an advisory capacity on policy issues to the Dutch Ministry of Waterways, The Commission of the European Communities, Council of Europe, Royal Dutch Academy of Science and local authorities in the UK.
We take your information problem from the drafting of documents (we have fifteen years experience as authors), to the structuring of documents (we work with scientific institutes on information structuring problems) to the communication of information to key audiences (our work has a particular focus on users and usability).
Information problems have traditionally been a one-sided affair. Information scientists design databases to solve information problems! In the modern age an equal emphasis has to be put on the drafting of a document and its access by co-workers or audiences (users, clients, colleagues, partners). The key to successful documentation is often the ease of customer self-service – i.e. its retrievability and usefulness to your target audience. Whereas a year ago you might have prepared documents and handed over the storage and retrieval aspects to technologists, now the design of a document and its retrieval and use go hand-in-hand.
We work with libraries and health organizations to define new ways of using information, to help organisations to adopt XML technology to simplify storage, retrieval and use, or to help make information more accessible or easier to understand.
If you want to review the way your documents are written, structured and accessed or to take advantage of new data storage, access and communications possibilities, then contact us.
|
