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posted by [identity profile] reverancepavane.livejournal.com at 03:27am on 01/03/2006
When it comes to Information Architecture one of the best think-tanks on the issue is the Foresight Institute (www.foresight.org) [Drexler's mob], although trying to dig the stuff out of their website can be a bit tricky, since it assumes that the casual visitor is more interested in nanotechnology than information science. A lot of their work concerns the intelligent filtering of information and verification/accreditation of information. I believe that they were the first to propose ideas such as information exchanges (where information is treated as a commodity in a capitalist manner; not to restrict an idea (such as with patents) but to validate it's worth). They've played with some fun ideas.

The fundamental problem with information spaces such as the web is fast and accurate navigation within the infospace, so that the data you desire is immediately available with the minimum of effort. Unfortuneately that is an idea that is extremely lost on architecture/Design students, for example, where they think pretty is better than simple and concise.

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maelorin: (Default)

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posted by [personal profile] maelorin at 04:06am on 01/03/2006
i play with the foresight mob from time-to-time :)

to me "information architecture" connotes a *designed* information space. perhaps i'm too attached to the more 'traditional' use of the term 'architecture'?

mind you, many info arch practitiooners seem to have the same kind of thing in their mind - but are struggling to put it onto paper.

i should be tutoring unisa's city west info sys studnets in systems design from next week. bilby and i have already discussed the key ideas that the students ought to have burned into the back of their skulls by the time they leave ... "purpose" being central.

since i've been designing and/or hacking databases since the 80s - formally since 90s - i'm a big advocate of design over decoration.

some of drexler's ideas have resonated with me for at least a decade - possibly more.
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posted by [identity profile] reverancepavane.livejournal.com at 06:42am on 01/03/2006
Actually a few architects (the "real" ones that can join the RIAA) are playing with the design of information spaces in a similiar manner to designing buildings. After all, we have a natural understanding of navigating through a 3D environment so why not use that knowledge to create a VR system where the user can navigate for data. b One nice idea was that their VR system was the game Quake (after all, the game engine provides the neccessary attributes you require in a VR system - the ability to navigate through a virtual space). After all if the US Marines can use a customized version of Doom to get their consulate guards up to speed of the layout of foreign consulates...

Admittedly it also led to the Architecture Summer School course subject of "Design a Quake Level" (although I think it's now "Design an Unreal Tournament Level"). But from reality. The example I've seen was the Old Police Barracks between Physics at UnivAd and the Museum. Impressively done.



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maelorin: (Default)

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posted by [personal profile] maelorin at 06:58am on 01/03/2006
yeah. that sounds like a cool topic :)

sometimes i wonder if i'd have been better off doing architecture than law ...
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