From Boxes and Arrows, by way of The Importance Of by way of Smart Mobs, this delightful piece on Paul Otlet for those
of us fascinated by meta-analysis of ideas and communities, such as the
Iowa blog project:
The Importance Of
November 19, 2003
>Forgotten Father of the World Wide Web
The information design site Boxes and Arrows has published a fascinating story on Paul Otlet, who they call “the forgotten forefather of information architecture” (Forgotten Forefather: Paul Otlet).
Apparently, he foresaw much of what we know as the World Wide Web in
1934. His system used millions of mechanically stored 3×5 cards to
create a “universal book” or “web” of human knowledge that could be
accessed by “electric telescope” and was interconnected through
“links.” Great stuff.Perhaps some enterprising authors will write some alternate history
stories involving Otlet. Not Victorian-era Steampunk, but rather,
1930’s “Pulppunk”.
via Smart Mobs
