Originally a Kolona On-Time System module, Smart Information (Si!) revolutionizes information discovery and sharing by adding direction of discovery: With Si!, Information finds or discovers the user.
Discovery mechanisms in information systems use an ontology, which categorizes individual pieces of information.
Since information is relatively messy, frequently updated, fragmented, hidden, emergent, and disorganized, its ontology is per force ill-defined and indeterminate, and probably cannot be completely automated.
Conversely, the structure—and especially the roles—of users is relatively tidy, well known, and organized. Users have a relatively well-defined, determinant ontology.
In very complex systems like the National Airspace System (NAS), the traditional discovery architecture becomes unworkable, ineffective, expensive, and increasingly un-agile. It is likely to fail precisely when its success is most necessary: during emergencies and unexpected circumstances.
Si! solves this discovery problem by providing a bi-directional discovery paradigm where the information finds the user.
Instead of assuming that a user subscribes to and seeks users who advertise, Si! provides the basis for a producer to seek consumers who advertise not their wares but their roles.