[Robert]

Purpose
The assimilation forum is a new kind of forum that I hope you will find interesting. I plan to introduce the Topic Assimilation forums into most of the ToeQuest forum categories. But first a definition:

Assimilation - The process of consuming or absorbing new ideas and knowledge into an existing cognitive structure.

Star Trek and the Borg
Think of the Borg in the TV series "Star Trek". That alien cybor-race had a singular goal, namely the consumption of knowledge and technology, rather than wealth or political expansion as most species seek. They gathered the knowledge of other civilizations through the process of assimilation, with the victim's brain being linked with the collective Borg consciousness.


The ToeQuest Collective
The process of assimilation at ToeQuest is similar but leaves you with your free will intact. Each thread will be devoted to a single topic related to the parent category. Users may post suggestions for topics to the suggestion thread but may not start new threads. Once a thread is created on a specific topic, users may post their comments, ideas, facts, references, and opinions about the topic. And then your comment will be assimilated into the collective ToeQuest consciousness. Your posts will remain in the thread but will be marked ASSIMILATED when the knowledge contained in your post is merged with the knowledge of the collective.

How to Access
This collective consciousness will be in the form of a mind map that can be experienced using the following two methods:

1. You can download a mind map data file that will be attached to the first post of a thread and updated periodically. You can then view it on your personal computer using a free mindmap viewer that is available here. The viewer allows you to navigate the mindmap, with the limitation that it can not be edited.
2. Alternatively, using Internet Explorer you can click on a link in the starting post and navigate the assimilated knowledge of the mindmap within your browser using a free plugin. The first time you do this you will be given instructions on what to do. This is the best way initially. If you like what you see you can download it to your computer for additional exploration.

Posting Guidelines
Just remember to make topic suggestions to the suggestions thread and I, or a moderator, will start a "thread of assimilation" in your name. All posts to threads should be focused on the topic and offer additional knowledge on the topic, ideas, links to additional information, etc. These threads are mostly for collecting information on a topic, so that when merged together in pictorial form, will provide new insights into the topic or related topics. Hope you're as excited about this as I am.