The Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) was set up in 1995 in recognition of the need for the Open University to be at the forefront of research and development in a convergence of areas that
impacted on the OU's very nature:
Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Artificial Intelligence and Semantic Technologies, and Multimedia. We chose to call this convergence Knowledge Media.
Knowledge Media is about the processes of generating, understanding and sharing knowledge using several different media, as well as understanding how the use of different media shape these processes.
KMi operates with reference to a number of basic tenets, which define the context in which we formulate and pursue our research objectives:
Knowledge Media is about the processes of generating, understanding and sharing knowledge using several different media, as well as understanding how the use of different media shape these processes.
KMi operates with reference to a number of basic tenets, which define the context in which we formulate and pursue our research objectives:
Strategic Threads
Our research is aligned with a number of broad strategic threads, currently Future Internet, Knowledge Management, Multimedia & Information Systems, Narrative Hypermedia, New Media Systems, Semantic Web & Knowledge Services and Social Software.
Learning
In keeping with a lifelong learning perspective, our research agenda takes a broad definition of learning, embracing distance learning, learning in the classroom, and learning in the workplace.
KMi Twitter Feed
View all tweets from kmiou twitter feed
Future Internet
KnowledgeManagementMultimedia &
Information SystemsNarrative
HypermediaNew Media SystemsSemantic Web &
Knowledge ServicesSocial Software
New Media Systems is...
Our New Media Systems research theme aims to show how new media devices, standards, architectures and concepts can change the nature of learning.
Our work involves the development of short life-cycle working prototypes of innovative technologies or concepts that we believe will influence the future of open learning within a 3-5 year timescale. Each new media concept is built into a working prototype of how the innovation may change a target community. The working prototypes are all available (in some form) from this website.
Our prototypes themselves are not designed solely for traditional Open Learning, but include a remit to show how that innovation can and will change learning at all levels and in all forms; in education, at work and play.
Check out these Hot New Media Systems Projects:
List all New Media Systems Projects
Check out these Hot New Media Systems Technologies:
List all New Media Systems Technologies
List all New Media Systems Projects
Check out these Hot New Media Systems Technologies:
List all New Media Systems Technologies

