Maybe I'm a hopeless optimist, I think that there are better ways of
letting people explore our catalog than our traditional 'browse list',
ways that will make people happier whether or not they want some
"journey" or just the "destination". (And I suspect if you divide people
like that, then 90%+ of all of our users are "destination" users.)
The 'browse list' is simply taking the best display for this kind of
exploration in the _print_ environment and translating it exactly to a
computer screen. We have so many more options now. It's time to start
exploring them. The 'browse list' is, I suggest, unlikely to be the
optimal interface for the computer environment with so many more options.
But no doubt SOME people will continue prefering the "browse list" same
as it's always been. My impression, and the studies I've seen, suggest
that almost all of those people are librarians.
Jonathan
Todd Puccio wrote:
> Jonathan wrote :
>
> Mitchell, Michael wrote:
> I'd much rather have the headings link to browse lists of authorized
> headings, and ultimately resources
> My impression, and the user studies I've seen, suggest you are not a
> typical user in this regard.
>
> Jonathan
>
>
> That's because some people have an information seeking behavior that
> includes the "journey" along with the "destination" as part of the learning
> and knowledge process.
>
> By which I mean that many people want to see the browse list as a method of
> learning more about the person/topic.
> Other folks just want to get to the result they were searching for; any
> additional screens and clicks are an inconvenience.
>
> It is the kind of philosophy and worldview difference that applies in many
> aspects of life.
>
>
> --
> Todd Puccio
>
>
Received on Wed Apr 28 2010 - 13:16:30 EDT