Scavenger Hunt Scavenger Hunt Scavenger Hunt Writing Trivia.
Taming the information scavenger hunt
15
Taming the Information Taming the Information Scavenger Hunt Scavenger Hunt Cheryl Landes STC-Rochester Spectrum Conference March 21, 2013
description
With the influx of more devices where we can consume information, the volumes of information are multiplying faster than before. And it’s even more difficult to find the information we want or need. Interfaces vary and limit our ability to find information, but other factors are also involved. How can we take advantage of these factors and make finding information easier? Cheryl Landes has some ideas from her experiences of helping people find information for more than two decades. One may even surprise you: incorporating search with indexes!
Transcript of Taming the information scavenger hunt
Taming the Information Taming the Information Scavenger HuntScavenger Hunt
Cheryl LandesSTC-Rochester Spectrum Conference
March 21, 2013
AgendaAgendaWhat is findability?The elements of findabilityHelping users find information
Word of the Day:Word of the Day:
Findability
Findability is the ability to actually discover and retrieve the information you’re seeking.
Findability = Navigation + Search
What is navigation?What is navigation?Navigation is how you move
around in content.To navigate, you use:
◦Buttons◦Tabs◦Tables of contents◦Menus◦Links◦Indexes
Navigational Control Navigational Control ConsiderationsConsiderationsAre controls intuitive?
◦ Refresh button on Kindle Reader◦ Tabs on Adobe Digital Editions◦ Where did the controls go?
Do controls follow the familiar UI standards?
Do you know to where the controls will lead?
Can you return to where you were?Can you retrace your virtual steps, if
needed?
What is search?What is search?Search is the act of looking for
specific content by entering a query in a search engine.
Queries consist of keywords, or search terms, that displays the information the search engine finds.
The search engine displays the results of the query from the most to least relevant.
Search ConsiderationsSearch ConsiderationsIs the search interface intuitive?Do you really know where you’re
searching?Can you get useful, relevant
results when you enter a search term?
What are indexes?What are indexes?Indexes are a list of terms that point
users exactly to the information they’re seeking.
Indexes also provide alternate points of entry for the same terms (synonyms).
Indexes also lump together important topics in the book so that the user can find all of the information organized in one place. Not always obvious in table of contents.
Indexes Indexes vs.vs. Tables of Tables of ContentsContentsA table of contents is simply a list
of headings in the content. These headings usually do not contain the terms that people are seeking, and if they do, the information may be more general.
An index contains specific terms pulled from the discussions in the content the leads readers directly to that information.
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Source:Pillars of the Earth
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Source:Conversation and Community
Considerations for Making Content Considerations for Making Content FindableFindableWho is your audience?What are your audience’s needs?Which devices are your readers using?What are the interface limitations of the
devices?What types of content will your readers
want to find?How many terms can you include to
help your readers find the same content? (language background, cultural differences)
IndexIndexSource:MicrosoftStyle Guide
SummarySummaryFindability is about discovering
and gathering information.Navigation and search together
help users find the information they need.
Knowing which devices will be used and understanding how these work helps us create and deliver content that’s easier to find.
Contact InformationContact InformationCheryl LandesTabby Cat Communications4742-42nd Avenue SW #512Seattle, WA 98116-4553(206) [email protected]
