Multimedia Specification Design and Production 2013 / Semester 2 / week 7 Lecturer: Dr. Nikos Gazepidis * Notes by Dr Trevor Baker from UH

2 Learning outcomes  Defining Information Architecture (IA)  Understanding Information Environments  Components of an information architecture  Methodology & Deliverables Information Architecture

3 Information from Latin “informatio” (outline, concept, idea) or “informare” (to shape, form, train, instruct, educate) Information Architecture

4 Information Information is form.

5 Information Architecture Information Information is form that shapes what is in your mind. Form=Idea=Seeing The old Greek word for “form” is “idea” (“eidós”). Information=Form=Idea Seeing the form: getting the idea Evolve the form: develop the idea Clear form: clear idea Clear idea: clear form

6 Information Architecture

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8 Then there was this guy...

9 Information Architecture

10 Understanding IA  This concept is very useful in designing interactive systems  Used in early stages of prototyping  Used as an object of communication  Used in evaluation  Used in story-boarding Information Architecture

11 Classification  Basis of all information architecture is the classification of: Content User  Very difficult to establish exclusive categories Information Architecture

12 AI System Components  Content  Organization systems  Navigation systems  Search systems  Labeling systems Information Architecture

13 Definition of Information Architecture …is defined by the Information Architecture Institute as:  The structural design of shared information environments.  The art and science of organizing and labeling web sites, intranets, online communities and software to support findability and usability.  An emerging community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape. Information Architecture

14 A visual definition Information Architecture QUESTIONS ANSWERS Users  Audience types  Information needs Info. Architecture org, label, nav & searching systems Content  scope & volume  structure  metadata Business Context  strategy  resources  culture/politics  workflow

15 Why is IA difficult? Information Architecture USERS Communication chasm documents & apps Example Personal Digital Assistant Synonyms Handheld Computer "Alternate" Spellings Persenal Digitel Asistent Abbreviations / Acronyms PDA Broader Terms Wireless, Computers Narrower Terms PalmPilot, PocketPC Related Terms WindowsCE, Cell Phones

16 Why is IA important? Information Architecture  Cost of finding (time, clicks, frustration, precision).  Cost of not finding (success, recall, frustration, alternatives).  Cost of development (time, budget, staff, frustration).  Value of learning (related products, services, projects, people).

17 A user’s perspective? Information Architecture Personal Network & Colleagues Notes DB Shared LAN Drives Special apps Public websites Intranets Other resources Printed resources

18 Information Environment? Information Architecture Business Context Content Users Business models & goals, corporate culture, resources document types, objects, structure, attributes, meta-information information needs, audience types, expertise, tasks

19 Information Environment: Context Information Architecture Business Context Characteristics of Large Companies Increasingly global / distributed enterprises Multiple cultures and languages Complicating Factors (Intranets & Web Sites) Authors and users spread across departments Ownership unclear Balance of centralization versus decentralization unclear

20 Information Environment: Users Information Architecture Users Complex and Diverse information seeking behavior, needs, expertise Many Ways to Study observation, interviews, modeling, testing, tracking, observation

21 Information Environment: Content Information Architecture Content Data store Document store Unpublished & Tacit knowledge Financial Sales, Oracle Sybase Mainframe Text, PPT, XLS, HTML, XML, MS Office, Notes Print Documents, Oral Communication, Memory, PCs, Folders

22 Why is IA difficult? Information Architecture USERS documents & apps Users cannot find the information they need Suppliers Customers Partners documents & apps Users access the right information on right time employees Interested public