The Practice of the Use of Computers. A Paradoxical Encounter between Different Traditions of Knowledge

Fundamental to the design of knowledge-based systems is the understanding of the nature of knowledge and the problems involved in computerizing it. This chapter deals with these issues and draws a distinction between three different categories of knowledge: propositional knowledge, skill or practical knowledge and knowledge of familiarity. In the present debate on “Information Society”, there is a clear tendency to overemphasize the theoretical knowledge at the expense of practical knowledge thereby completely ignoring the knowledge of familiarity. It is argued that different forms of theoretical knowledge are required for the design of current computer technology and the study of the practice of computer usage. The concept of dialogue and the concept of “To Follow a Rule” are therefore fundamental to the understanding of the practice of computer usage.