The interactive knowledge map explains key terms and specific phenomena of the digital transformation and thus helps to understand it. Currently only available in German.

The knowledge map

The bidt’s knowledge map summarises and explains key terms and specific phenomena of the digital transformation. It emphasises certain characteristics of the digital that underlie the phenomena. The connections between the terms and phenomena are visualised in the form of a network graph that can be navigated through interactively.

The bidt is pursuing several goals with the knowledge map. It is intended to identify digital change and its fundamental mechanisms as well as bundle and provide knowledge on digital transformation. It is also intended to visualise the bidt’s research findings and stimulate new research. The special thing about it is that the knowledge map brings together current scientific findings from various disciplines and at the same time enables an overarching but also detailed view of the digital transformation.

Elements of the knowledge map

The knowledge map presents knowledge on digital transformation in the form of a network graph. This consists of various elements: Nodes in the network stand for central concepts, edges represent phenomena that can be located between two nodes and connect them.

Nodes

The nodes represent cross-disciplinary key terms of the digital transformation and offer generally understandable and comprehensive explanations of the terms. These central terms are highlighted as clearly visible nodes in the network graph.

The articles have a standardised structure and cover the following aspects: Definition and delimitation, history, application and examples, criticism and problems, research, further links and literature as well as sources.

Examples: Augmented reality, open data, quantum computing, gamification, metaverse, digital participation, platform economy, digital twin, data sovereignty, digital inequality.

Edges

Edges represent the connection between two nodes and relate them to each other. They represent selected phenomena that are related to these two central concepts or come about through their interaction. We focus on phenomena that are particularly novel, frequently misunderstood or little researched. We also consider phenomena that are highly controversial or underestimated but have a major impact.

The edge articles also follow a standardised structure. The edge phenomenon is described from a specific disciplinary perspective, the relationship to the two nodes connected by it is explained, the comparability with phenomena from the analogue world is examined, the relevant enablers are named and the social relevance is assessed.

Examples: Digital Afterlife, Algorithmic Aversion, Dark Patterns, Human Augmentation, Self-Sovereign Identities, Post-Quantum Cryptography, Deepnudes, Data Literacy.

Enabler

Enablers are characteristics that distinguish the digital and explain why or how digital phenomena differ from comparable analogue phenomena. They are to be understood as mechanisms of action from the analogue to the digital. Based on a comparable phenomenon from the analogue world, the edge articles show which enablers make the edge phenomenon possible in the digital world. We are working on a systematisation in which we assign the enablers to different levels.

Examples: lossless duplication, automation, networking and data integration, ubiquitous availability, simplified obfuscation.

Outlook

The knowledge map is constantly growing. Researchers are constantly contributing further articles on edge phenomena that are the focus of their scientific work. The interactive operation of the knowledge map enables both targeted and exploratory research, allowing surprising phenomena and findings to be discovered.

Further content