The “Black’s Wheel”: a technique to develop hypermedia narratives. Prof. Dr. Maria Laura Martinez () Prof. Dr. Maria Laura Martinez Journalism and Publishing Department Prof. Dr. Sueli Mara Ferreira () Prof. Dr. Sueli Mara Ferreira Lybrary and Documentation Department University of Sao Paulo (USP) - Brazil Communications and Arts School User Centered Design Research Center (CEDUs)

2 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez The Black’s Wheel Roger BLACK & Sean ELDER book: “Web sites that work” (1997) Roger BLACK & Sean ELDER book: “Web sites that work” (1997) Describes the narrative structure used by Black’s team that places narrative elements in a wheel-like format. Describes the narrative structure used by Black’s team that places narrative elements in a wheel-like format. In 2005 we created the technique called “The Black’s Wheel”, introducing: In 2005 we created the technique called “The Black’s Wheel”, introducing: (1) GRAPHIC DIAGRAM of the narrative wheel concept, and (1) GRAPHIC DIAGRAM of the narrative wheel concept, and (2) GUIDELINES for building it, aiming at facilitating nonlinear content design with user focus. (2) GUIDELINES for building it, aiming at facilitating nonlinear content design with user focus. In 2009 we improve it again creating, the In 2009 we improve it again creating, the (3) “ELABORATION DOCUMENT” of each narrative element. (3) “ELABORATION DOCUMENT” of each narrative element.

3 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez The Black’s Wheel Diagram

4 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez The Black’s Wheel Guidelines and Documentation GUIDELINES: (1) USER CONCERN (1) USER CONCERN (2) ELEMENTS IDENTIFICATION (2) ELEMENTS IDENTIFICATION (3) INTERACTIVITY (3) INTERACTIVITY (4) MULTIMEDIALITY (4) MULTIMEDIALITY (5) PERSONALIZATION (5) PERSONALIZATION (6) NAVIGATION (6) NAVIGATION (7) LABELING (7) LABELING (8) DOCUMENTATION (8) DOCUMENTATION ELABORATION DOCUMENT: (1) Name of the narrative element (1) Name of the narrative element (2) Label (2) Label (3) Summary of the content (3) Summary of the content (4) Journalistic speech (4) Journalistic speech (5) Interactive contents (5) Interactive contents (6) Quality of interaction (6) Quality of interaction (7) Multimedia contents (7) Multimedia contents (8) Incorporated functionalities (tools and services) (8) Incorporated functionalities (tools and services)

5 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez Case study Methodology Multiple case-study design Multiple case-study design (1) Research Questions to be investigated: (1) Research Questions to be investigated: Is the Black’s Wheel technique: Is the Black’s Wheel technique: understandable? / applicable? understandable? / applicable? useful? / Can enhance project? useful? / Can enhance project? complete? complete? (2) Research methods selection (2) Research methods selection Document analysis Document analysis Participant observation Participant observation (3) Case-study Protocol development (3) Case-study Protocol development (4) Case Analysis (4) Case Analysis

6 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez Case study Protocol Protocol’s Global variables Protocol’s Global variables 1.Original Title. 2.Language. 3.Title in English. 4.When it was developed. 5.Where. 6.Manager. 7.Brief Description. 8.User profile. 9.The Black's Wheel Diagram. 10.Wheel Unit Replication. 11.Navigation Representation. 12. Independency between Wheel Spokes. 13. Non-content elements. 14. Size. Protocol’s Local variables Protocol’s Local variables 1.Original label 2.Label in English. 3.Hierarchy level. 4.Summary 5.Journalistic speech 6.Interactive elements 7.Quality of interaction 8.Multimedia elements 9.Functionalities

7 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez Case study presentation Main objective: Main objective: Evaluating the Black’s Wheel technique Evaluating the Black’s Wheel technique Communications and Arts School Buildings University of São Paulo - Brazil

8 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez Case study Universe 30 works since 2005

9 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez Case study Sample Universe 17 works out of 30 (57% ) Selection criteria: had used graphic diagram to describe the Black’s Wheel

10 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez Case study Sample Universe 2 out of 17 Case study Sample Universe 2 out of was analyzed to evaluate the Black’s Wheel technique. Case 1 “ Human Beings Traffic ” Case 2 “Guiana”

11 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez 2 was analyzed to evaluate the Black’s Wheel technique. Case 1 “ Human Beings Traffic ” Case 2 “Guiana” Case study Sample Universe 2 out of 17 Case study Sample Universe 2 out of 17.

12 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez

13 1st research question: Is it understandable? Observations made in class: Observations made in class: students commonly apply the technique without much difficulty. students commonly apply the technique without much difficulty. Documental analysis: Documental analysis: Case 1 Case 1  2005, 2nd. Semester.  generally succeed applying the technique  distinguish clearly between the Information Architecture and the Black’s Wheel. Nevertheless... Documental analysis: Documental analysis: Some teams prefer to textually describe the elements in the wheel instead of drawing it (17 out of the 30 ) Some teams prefer to textually describe the elements in the wheel instead of drawing it (17 out of the 30 ) Case 2 analysis mix Information Architecture and Black’s Wheel concepts. Case 2 analysis mix Information Architecture and Black’s Wheel concepts. Possible explanations... Possible explanations...

14 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez 2rd research question: Is it useful? Observations made in class: Observations made in class: the technique application usually causes fruitful quarrels around the non- linear storytelling. the technique application usually causes fruitful quarrels around the non- linear storytelling. Documental analysis shows that The Black’s Wheel Documental analysis shows that The Black’s Wheel facilitates understanding at a glance the whole nonlinear story and its constituent elements and facilitates understanding at a glance the whole nonlinear story and its constituent elements and may highlight the lack of contents that could enhance the story. may highlight the lack of contents that could enhance the story. GLOBAL and LOCAL protocol variables GLOBAL and LOCAL protocol variables Black’s Wheel technique evaluation; Black’s Wheel technique evaluation; Also be useful to assess the hypermedia narrative by identifying project weakness and strengths. Also be useful to assess the hypermedia narrative by identifying project weakness and strengths.

15 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez 3rd research question: Is it complete? No, it isn't complete No, it isn't complete although it can be applied to the hypermedia narrative design with relative success, as previously seen. although it can be applied to the hypermedia narrative design with relative success, as previously seen. Navigation representation into the Graphic diagram: Navigation representation into the Graphic diagram: has no clear model, has no clear model, needs more discussion. needs more discussion. Case 1 uses a creative navigation representation which doesn’t match completely the Information architecture’s navigation. Case 1 uses a creative navigation representation which doesn’t match completely the Information architecture’s navigation. Journalistic speech models Journalistic speech models compatibility and co- existence into a hypermedia special report isn’t a consensus. compatibility and co- existence into a hypermedia special report isn’t a consensus. Needs more thinking under multiple case perspectives. Needs more thinking under multiple case perspectives. Elaboration Document Elaboration Document recent introduction and application, recent introduction and application, could not be evaluated in this case study yet. could not be evaluated in this case study yet. Their application should be monitored. Their application should be monitored

16 CEDUS - USP & LIBER – UFPE Profa. Dra. M Laura Martinez Conclusions The Black’s Wheel, besides being at a research stage, has shown to be The Black’s Wheel, besides being at a research stage, has shown to be a graphical technique that facilitates the visualization and construction of the hypermedia structure and a graphical technique that facilitates the visualization and construction of the hypermedia structure and also an efficient strategy for Online Journalism classes. also an efficient strategy for Online Journalism classes. It’s an Open Technique It’s an Open Technique can enhanced with other people’s contributions. can enhanced with other people’s contributions. Future works: Future works: Development of an online database that collect and document cases, Development of an online database that collect and document cases, will use Protocol variables to standardize information collection. will use Protocol variables to standardize information collection. The working URL base will be: hypermedianarratives The working URL base will be: hypermedianarratives hypermedianarratives hypermedianarratives

 2002 MLM LSI - EP USP Thank you! M Laura Martinez