The term open knowledge has been gradually strengthening since the advent of the Internet in 1982,[1] thanks to the ease that this network of networks has generated in the rapid and effective distribution of information. Open knowledge is multifaceted, and due to this attribute, it does not have a widely accepted definition. However, for the purposes of this research, the definition provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (2022) is relevant, which conceives it as knowledge that has the legal and technological characteristics to be reused and shared, without restrictions, by any person or organization, at any time and anywhere.[2] Therefore, this type of knowledge offers an opportunity for all open content or information to be freely used, distributed, and replicated by everyone.
For the IDB, there are also five basic concepts that allow for a greater understanding of how open knowledge operates.[3] The first of these is open learning, defined as a pedagogical practice that breaks traditional educational barriers by maximizing learning opportunities through free access to educational resources, flexibility in teaching methods through the use of new technologies, and collaborative participation through practices such as m-learning—use of mobile devices and wireless transmission—to maximize communication effectiveness.[4] The second term is open source, which is software whose source code is free and made available to anyone for distribution.[5] The third key concept is open access, addressed through the “Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities” in 2003, initiated by the Max Planck Society.[6] This document has been signed by governments, universities, foundations, libraries, museums, and research institutions worldwide, establishing that all open access contributions such as original research results, raw data and metadata, academic multimedia material, and digital and graphic materials should be free, unrestricted, and easily accessible. The fourth concept is open data, which is data available in digital form that possesses the necessary technical characteristics and open licenses to be freely reused and redistributed.[7] Finally, the fifth key concept is open innovation, understood as a strategic approach that promotes collaboration with other organizations to enhance access to new ideas and technologies.[8] All these concepts are essential for a better understanding of everything that open knowledge entails, which is not a static concept, and the relevance it holds for the development ecosystem.
Additionally, for the Open Knowledge Foundation,[9] it is also important to emphasize that, in the process of achieving a greater understanding of what is meant by the term, there are certain parameters that this type of knowledge must meet, related to its availability and distribution. First, the content must be in the public domain or have an open license that allows the information to be used freely. The second parameter establishes the importance of the information being available in its entirety and not in fragments, and that it must also be free of charge, meaning there should be no cost when it is downloaded. The third parameter emphasizes that the available information must be machine-processable and also provide easy access for editing and modifying the content. Finally, everything must be provided in an open format.
- ↑ "History of the Internet," Polytechnic University of Catalonia, accessed September 12, 2023, https://www.fib.upc.edu/retro-informatica/historia/internet.html
- ↑ Kyle Strand and Ana Ramírez, “Open Knowledge: Definition, Tools, and Resources,” Abierto al Público (blog), IDB, July 25, 2022,https://blogs.iadb.org/conocimiento-abierto/es/conocimiento-abierto/
- ↑ Antonio Moneo, “5 Key Concepts of Open Knowledge,” Abierto al Público (blog), IDB, March 17, 2016, https://blogs.iadb.org/conocimiento-abierto/es/5-conceptos-clave-del-conocimiento-abierto/
- ↑ Cristóbal Cobo Romaní, “Open Learning Model,” Educational Innovation, vol. 7, no. 41 (2007): 9, https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/1794/179421215002.pdf
- ↑ Federico Basañes, "Open Source: Concepts and Applications", IDB, January 2, 2019, https://blogs.iadb.org/conocimiento-abierto/en/open-source/
- ↑ "Berlin Declaration", Max Planck Society, accessed January 26, 2024, https://openaccess.mpg.de/Berlin-Declaration
- ↑ Arturo Muente Kunigami, "Open Data: Basic Concepts and Key Issues", IDB, March 4, 2019, https://blogs.iadb.org/conocimiento-abierto/en/open-data/
- ↑ Joel Smith, Rebekah Gay, and Rachel Montagnon, "Open Innovation - Fostering Collaboration", WIPO Magazine (2020), https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2020/02/article_0005.html
- ↑ "What is open?", Open Knowledge Foundation, accessed September 12, 2023, http://opendefinition.org/od/2.1/en/
