Contact:cdent@burningchrome.com
Gullikson, S., Blades, R., Bragdon, M., McKibbon, S., Sparling, M.,
and Toms, E. (1998). The impact of information architecture on academic
web site usability. _The Electronic Library 17_ (5), 293-304.
A classic usability test for an academic website that shows how
important it is to attend to the fundamentals of information
architecture when creating websites. Recommendations from testing
include: provide multiple access points and pathways to deal with user
diversity; provide keyword scearching, a site map, an alphabetic index
and a FAQ to assist navigation into the depths of the site; provide
consistency in organizational scheme, categories and labels.
-=-=-
I had something of a revelation when I started reading this article:
there is a significant difference between information
recovery/discovery and knowledge generation. The tasks described in
this article are information recovery--there is a target.
My infatuation with hypertext comes from the way in which it
facillitates knowledge generation--finding unexpected links between
things. It's effectiveness for information recovery is perhaps
somewhat suspect given the degree of planning required to make it work
well.
In my own life I seem to get around that by viewing my misnavigations
as opportunities for knowledge.
It's always about perspective.
Back to the Index
Contact:cdent@burningchrome.com
Thesauri can be used to create an authorized descriptor. Language is normalized in a style similar to database normalization to establish and codify relationships. Once this structure is in place the building blocks are in place to create many (any?) kinds of representations as long as the relationships are respected. Interestingly, human concept categories essentially exist to get around (in both the traverse and ignore senses) rigidity: they are adaptable so as to create dynamic relationships and representations. Back to the Index
Contact:cdent@burningchrome.com
Reiss, E. L. (2000). _Practical information architecture: a hands on
approach to structuring successful web sites. Harlow, UK:
Addison-Wesley.
A description of an approach to managing the creation of corporate web
sites from the point of view of an information architect. Outlines and
describes the steps with examples and indications of areas where there
may be particular hangups. Integrates practical real world know how
with solid understanding of the fundamentals of information
representation.
-=-=-
This is a well constructed work, for what it is, but I have to
complain about a few things:
At least in these chapters there is a somewhat idealized view of the
client and the labor. Communicating effectively with the people who
want the work and the people who are going to do it is the most
challenging part of the job. Having an elegant method to support
yourself will certainly help in acquiring and exercising authority,
but there's more to it.
These chapters go a long way to affirming the role of information
architect as a marketing tool. It's no wonder there's a rift between
traditional and new info science people. The new folks all want to
professionalize their field so they can make some money. The best way
they've figured to do that is to held the spread of consumerism.
No thank you, I'd rather not. Figuring out how information gathering
works is so people can learn more effectively and take charge of how
they find, filter and use information.
Back to the Index