Developing Usable Experiences

Thoughts in preparation for Week 2

September 12th, 2006 5:00 pm —  133 views

* Are there any other contemporary examples of collections that you can think about? How does the aggregation of collections make information more useful for us?

If value and insight are to be found through analysis and study of collections then aggregation of elements must be involved. Though it could be argued that the process of aggregation is not always intentional. Byproducts of existing processes can aggregate contextual elements into collections by virtue of those processes. Note the collections that appear in the back seat of someone that spends a lot of time on the road and observe an aggregated collection that illustrates behavioral and dietary patterns. Whether such an aggregation represents anything useful depends on the context and observational intent. Inadvertent collections can provide unique insights into the social processes and contextual aspects to which they are related and as such can prove useful.

* Why is it important to know the contextual situation surrounding the creation or use of collections? Can you give some examples to substantiate your argument?

Anything taken out of context is prone to misinterpretation. If the circumstances relative to the use of and/or modification of collections aren’t properly understood analytical capacity is undermined and can lead to incomplete or mistaken theories. Take for example the use of version control respositories. If management notices certain files changing that don’t fit into their relative understanding of what “should” be changing then inaccurate assumptions might be made relative to the time being spent by the developer. Only after the context is explored and logical connections made can management rest easy that time is being well spent.

* Carr’s reading presents Libraries and Museums as “Incendiary cultural institutions”. Can you provide another example of a collection that is “incendiary” and explain why it is so?

I’m curious if businesses might be considered “incendiary cultural institutions” or collections that can be “incendiary”. Viewing a business as a focused, goal oriented collection of resources and information might be considered “incendiary” in the sense that new ideas and approaches to problems are constantly pursued thereby encouraging information seeking. Provided the business allows developmental exploration, room to move and explore, the challenge posed by unsolved problems affords the pursuit of greater understanding and exploration of existing collections. The cultural aspects are hard to overlook considering that technical innovation often results from ‘thinking outside the box’.

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