Reimagining Recording: Unleashing the Power of Wizening in the Greater Horn of Africa

The Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) faces a significant challenge—the lack of proper recording and databasing of crucial activities, events, and observations. Surprisingly, countries in the region, such as Ethiopia, possess the means to record using their unique alphabet, numbering system, and calendar. However, past recording efforts have often lacked purpose or remained unused, perpetuating a cycle of knowledge and wisdom deficiency that stifles progress and instills a fear of change.

Breaking this vicious circle requires alternative approaches to invention and innovation that bypass exorbitant research and development (R&D) expenditures. In addition to the widely recognized Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom (DIKW) model, we propose extending it to a more comprehensive Record to Wisdom Cyclical (RWC) model.

It is crucial to distinguish between the process and the outcome. Wizening is not only an endpoint but also the catalyst for further wizening. Recording serves as the foundation for subsequent inventions and innovations. Therefore, strategic investments at every stage of the cyclical process yield superior outcomes.

By adopting an enhanced, clarified, and focused approach, the GHA region can embark on wizening about the importance of recording and subsequently invent new and original methods to document all economic and social activities, events, and observations. These carefully processed recordings can amass into an invaluable sea of information, ready to be mined and transformed into wisdom and invention.

It is essential to comprehend that the information stockpile refers to the transformed and databased information and knowledge existing at any given time. In the RWC model, the cycle commences by posing the question: Why is recording essential? By answering this fundamental WHY, recording purposes can be repurposed for wizening. Instead of separate R&D expenditures, additional resources and clear objectives can be allocated to the recording, databasing, and informing processes. Properly recording every event, be it birth, marriage, mobility, or death, as well as activities spanning production, consumption, education, health, public services, and social spheres, alongside observations like weather patterns, support the record-to-wisdom cycle.

In the following sections, we will delve into the intricacies of Recording, the wellspring o,

Recording: All the event, activity, and observation pieces creating a sea of Information Stockpile to fish Knowledge and Wisdom/invention from

Purpose of Recording

Let us start by clarifying what a record and recording is. According to the Dictionary.com definition, a record as a noun is “an account in permanent form, esp. in writing, preserving knowledge or information about facts or events”. (Record Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com). Accordingly, recording is the acting or practice of keeping an account of facts, events, and observation in permanent form, for preserving the information and knowledge about the facts, events and observations. There is an obvious relaionship between recording, knowing and wizening.

When we look at historical records that were preserved over centuries, it possible to see common denominator. Earlier recordings were primally focused around spiritual (Confucius, and Greece Mythology), religious (Bible and Koran) and chronicles of king’s heroism. The main purpose of those early historical recordings appear to be to create information and knowledge of belief systems.  Hence, recording of activities, events and observations was to spread the belief and to keep them for further future use for conversion of believers.

The purpose of recording expanded in the middle ages and more scientific works like astronomy, physical and natural sciences began to be recorded. As governments grew the complexity increase, governments created bureaucrats and needed to start recording the taxes they collect, the services they offer and the number of people who work them. Also, there were concerted efforts in recording artistic works like music, theater/drama, literature and philosophy.

With further development in knowing and wizening and invention and innovations of better capturing tools and devices, recordings purpose have further grown to include all events, activities, and observation that occurs in a countries economic, social and environmental sphere. Now a days, it appears like even private citizens affair, including daily activities at home, office and outside is captured through the social media and search engines.

Drivers of Recording

As the diagram depicts below, the three main drivers of Recording are: witnessing an event, participating in activities, and observing an experiment or trial. A person or thing undertakes the recording when events, happen, such as . Similarly, those who participate in the activity or things that are especially arranged for the purpose capture the activity.  Usually the observation is the one that is more defined and run in a planned and controlled manner to obtain the necessary recording of information to further analysis and knowing creation.

Distinction between record and Data

Important to clarify the distinction between data and records. Data is created out of a combination of records. Usually record cold be a single entry, like 1953. However, this entry by itself does not tell specifically what it is referring to. If we add one more record say birth year, we can identify those who are born in 1953. Again, this is not very specific as well, and hence if we add Jon Doe, then we know that this is the birth year of an individual. The three pieces of records can then be designated as birth data with three elements of records.

The recording the process commences when events, activities and observations are captured using all usable means. There are three elements that define recording: First is the Content that needs to be captured. Usually helpful to answer what, where, when, who(se) questions in the process. When properly captured, then it will lead to information about what, when, where and who. Similarly, the information can be further processed and becomes knowledge about what, when, where and who. 

The second element is timing. Recording the events, activities, and observation as close as possible when they are happening to avoid errors, omissions, and misrepresentation. 

Major types of capturing records: 

Physical (memory) Recording:

This is usually done when events, activities and observations are captured in individual or social memory. Those that are captured in memory are either passed along Orally and/or latter record in different medium. The challenge is often those captured in memory are not passed along close enough when event, activity and observation are captured. Memory could fade as well as verbally communicating to others can introduce a narrator, listener and retainer distortions and bias. Often, as the recordings pass on from person to person, there are opportunities for addition, omission, or exaggeration   Hence, the quality of such way of recording are questionable and requires an extensive verification and validation to make the recording reliable.

However, this type of capturing records is still widely relied upon today. In most parts of the world where either the literacy is low or technological penetration is minimal, most recordings occur through physical retention of events, activities, and observations. For example, in litigation and other areas where there is a need for evidence, the records captured in the physical memory is heavily relied upon. Witness is usually called upon to testify before decisions on some big cases is taken. 

Tools or device assisted Recording:

This way of capturing records uses different tools or medium like transcribing on parchment, animal skin, stone, typewriter, captured by camera, video recorder, computer and/or cell phone. This method of capturing record has evolved over time and most recently it has gained widespread use and events, activities, and observations are captured in minute detail and instantaneously.

Process of recording

In this section of the website the process of recording events, activities, and observations as it pertains to source of wizening is examined. However, the aim is not to go into any discussion about the different types of records.  The whole focus is on the process (recording) and not the product (record). Below is a diagram that shows the inputs that give rise to the recording process.

Pull-data-acquisition(Recording) Model                                                          Push-data-Acquisition (Recording) model

In the pull model, you locate and select a source of data. The application then uses the imaging API to acquire data from the device. In effect, the application pulls data from the device toward itself. Using the push model, still in storage devices notify applications of their status. You then use the standard TWAIN or ISIS APIs to acquire data. (Source: Data Acquisition Models, Microsoft, Data Acquisition Models | Microsoft Learn)

Recording participators:

In the recording process, three main participators: The data collector (responsible for capturing the records); data custodian who runs the systems and manages the data; and the data consumer who provides input as to the demand for recording. Here is a picture of how the three work together to complete the recording process.