Definition of collective intelligence – broad phenomenon that has its origins in the animal realm. In humans such animal collective intelligence is enhanced by language and culture allowing knowledge to be passed from one generation to another. Human collective intelligence is augmented by technology – starting from language. Any convention/technology that enhances our language ability will enhance our collective intelligence. Writing systems, printing press, e-media and digital networks – augment both personal cognitive abilities (memory and perception) and collective cognitive abilities (cooperate, share, increasing the stock of collective memory). The augmentation of collective intelligence by digital networks is simply an extension of an evolutionary process that goes back to the development of language. New digital tools for memory, perception and reasoning can be used effectively and they can be misused.

The essence of the new skills in digital tools is to create a synergy between personal knowledge management and collective knowledge management.

Personal knowledge management = connecting to people and sources of knowledge through a wide variety of platforms: filter: categorise: prioritise in order to be able to share it with others who are doing the same.
It has to work for you and work for others at the same time: mutuality.
So twitter comments must enable others to categorise the reading (url) that you have tweeted.
Filter + making available = curation – so we are all increasingly behaving as librarians – the keeper of personal knowledge but because of the tools we are using that personal knowledge has the power to become collective.

The philosophy is as old as the golden mean – do unto others as you expect they do unto you. Or even Kant’s Categorical Imperative.