Vol. 27:2 (2022) ► pp.144–190
Applications of the Document Towers method of representing document structures
This article argues in favor of representing the spatial distribution of information within and between documents, by surveying a broad variety of potential applications, including the entire document lifecycle, multiple sensory modalities, and a large spectrum of tasks and users. The theoretical explanations of this richness are a further facet of the article, and can be summarized as follows: (1) insights emerge from focusing on information structure, rather than information meaning; (2) spatializing information creates new information; (3) simplification increases the polyvalence of representation models; (4) introducing mystery in communication channels motivates discovery and diversifies insights; (5) approaching information design as a Gesamtkunstwerk multiplies the applications; (6) information is a manifestation of a link between structures and the actions these enable, while information design is the art and science of creating such links. The argument is developed around the concrete example of a document structure visualization, the Document Towers, which uses the metaphor of architectural models to represent documents.
Article outline
- Introduction
- Case study
- Theory
- Agnosticism
- Essentialism
- Spatialization
- Mystification
- Holism
- Enaction
- Applications
- Modalities
- Visual
- Audio
- Somatosensory
- Media
- Analog vs digital
- Complexity
- Format
- Information
- Physical structures
- Geometry
- Psychophysical structures
- Descriptors
- Perceptual phenomena
- Logical structures
- Format
- Encoding
- Functions
- Styles
- Identities
- Flow
- Semantic structures
- Semantics
- Named entities
- Sensation structures
- Physical structures
- Tasks
- General qualities
- Polyvalence
- Ergonomics
- Efficiency
- Create
- Design
- Modeling
- Digitization and conversion
- Management
- Quality control
- Interact
- Attract, fascinate, entice
- Intrigue, explore, question
- Collaborate, discuss, convince
- Images vs numbers
- Explore vs search
- Sensory vs language interaction
- Hands-off access
- Process
- Index
- Overview
- Perspectives
- Compare
- Classify
- Triage
- Navigate
- Remember
- Evolution
- Forensics
- E-reading
- Access
- Access
- Preservation
- Reconstruction
- Privacy
- Security
- Share
- Training
- Education
- Outreach
- Marketing and merchandising
- Art
- General qualities
- Users
- Fields
- Benefits
- Modalities
- Conclusions
- Acknowledgements
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References -
References
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