How Is The Nature of Information Changing?
Provides motivation for why we need to do things differently, based on the increasing possibilities for reusing the information we create.
Shows that if we can effectively link information components, we can pull information together into complex UI structures, and answer richer questions about a content domain.
With the explosion in the amount of external structured information, information architects may find it useful to look for existing information “out there” to pull into their solutions, rather than create it afresh. And when they look at information from external sources, they may be encouraged to think of brand new and useful combinations of information.
In user centred design (UCD), we use knowledge of the users and their goals to determine what information products might be useful to them. We can do this at a number of different scales, from an overall process to individual tasks within the process. This two part case study takes a high level business goal and uses UCD processes to help define appropriate information solutions.
Part 1 deals with the user and associated information at a high level, setting the stage for a deeper exploration.
Part 2 builds on the ideas uncovered in part 1, and subjects them to deeper scrutiny from both a user and information point of view.
We explore some examples of this as they relate to information architects, starting with the traditional 3-tier systems.
Swim-lane diagrams show clearly where ownership of the process transfers from one participant to another. But it is up to the information architect and solutions designer to design precisely how that transfer takes place. We discuss some common considerations, and some less common ones.
We have reached a transition point in the course. We pause to look back at the various ways we have explored and uncovered structure, and look forward to upcoming posts on IA considerations for presenting information.