Information Architecture Essay

Submitted By katyoliva77
Words: 2653
Pages: 11
Open Document
Information Architecture

Slides based on content of: Morville, P., & Rosenfeld, L. (2007). Information Architecture for the World Wide Web (3rd ed.). Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.

Architecture Metaphor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Milano_Duomo_1.jpg

Architecture Metaphor

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Uline_Ice_Company_Plant.jpg

Architecture Metaphor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MIT_Strata_Center.jpg

Architecture Metaphor
• A good architecture is
– Functional
– Appealing
– Enduring

Conceptualizing IA
• Information architecture is the architecture of information spaces
– Conceptualize information as a set of physical objects – Conceptualize information space as the physical space in which these objects reside
– Information architecture is the architecture of this information space

Lin, J. 2008. Introduction: What is Information Architecture? Available online at http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~jimmylin/INFM700-2008-Spring/Session1.ppt IA Examples

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

IA Examples

IA Examples

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SteacieLibrary.jpg

IA Examples

www.nist.gov

IA for the WWW
• Information Architecture
1. The structural design of shared information environments. 2. The combination of organization, labeling, search, and navigation systems within web sites and intranets. 3. The art and science of shaping information products and experiences to support usability and findability.
4. An emerging discipline and community of practice focused on bringing principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.

Information
• Information
– Web sites
– Documents
– Software applications
– Images
– Metadata
• Terms used to describe and represent objects such as documents, people, processes and organizations

IA Concepts
Structuring, organizing, and labeling
• Structuring
– Determining the appropriate level of granularity for the information
– Deciding how to relate pieces of information to each other • Organizing
– Grouping those components into useful categories

• Labeling
– What to call those categories and the links that connect them

IA Concepts
Finding and managing
• Findability
– Can users find what they are looking for through browsing, searching and asking

• Managing
– Balancing needs of users with goals of organization – Clear policies and procedures

IA Concepts
• Art and science
– Some scientific components to information architecture, but lots of ambiguity and complexity
– Information architects rely on experience, intuition and creativity—the “art” aspects of the discipline IA is NOT…
• What ISN’T Information Architecture?
– Graphic design
– Software development
– Usability engineering

Who Cares?
• Why is it important?
– Cost of finding information
– Cost of not finding information
– Value of education
– Cost of construction
– Cost of maintenance
– Cost of training
– Value of brand

IA Components
• Context
– Organizational mission, goals, strategy, staff, processes and procedures, infrastructure, budget, culture – Each organization’s information architecture should be unique
– Key to success: Understanding and Alignment
• Understand business context
• Align information architecture with context

IA Components
• Content
– Includes documents, applications, services, schema and metadata
– Key concepts
•
•
•
•
•
•

Ownership
Format
Structure
Metadata
Volume
Dynamism

IA Components
• Users
– Who uses the site?
– How do they use the site?
– What info do they want from the site?

Focus on User Needs
• User information needs
– Known-item seeking
• Looking for the right answer

– Exploratory seeking
• Not looking for specific answer, rather pieces of information on a topic that are useful

– Exhaustive research
• Looking for every piece of information on a topic

– Need it again…
• Social tagging with the expectation of refindability

Information Seeking Behavior
• Information seeking behaviors
– Searching, browsing and asking
–
Show More

Related Documents: Information Architecture Essay

Database Design Essay

process, and utilize information to achieve various tasks and goals. To get the most out of databases companies employ database management systems. In this paper we will be taking a look at what database systems are, as well as the architecture that defines them. Before we begin it is important to understand that data and information mean two completely different things. Data is information in its raw form; before it has been processed or organized in some fashion. Information is born from this…

Words 773 - Pages 4

Enterprise Architecture Justification Paper Va Dmv

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Enterprise Architecture Justification Paper Case Study Written by: June 14, 2000 IFSM 311 Professor To consider what enterprise architecture means, it is important to understand its origin. All architecture within information technology can track its ancestry back to the lessons learned from building architecture. Enterprise Architecture is the description and visualization of the structure, a blueprint if you will, of a given area of contemplation…

Words 982 - Pages 4

BSA375 wk3 ind paper

Service Request SR-rm-022 Part 2 Michael Hence BSA/375 May 1, 2014 There are many methods for the development of application architecture and the approach at which to take for this meticulously thought out process depends on the analysis of the information gathered from the company during the initial phase of the system development lifecycle. Application architecture is defining structured solutions that conform to the specifications of the company’s goals as defined during the planning phase…

Words 642 - Pages 3

Cis 210 Application Architecture

Application Architecture Noor Al Shadidi Strayer University Professor Major CIS 210 9/7/2014 Application Architecture The purpose of writing this report is to present a new payroll system for the company. Building a payroll program for a large organization with offices spread across the United States has many changelings and most be done in a particular way. Thus having the right application architecture is important where the design is concerned, because the company has one large data center…

Words 1267 - Pages 6

Computer Architecture Essay

Computer Architecture Student’s name Professor Intro to Information Technology February 2, 2014 Computer Architecture John von Neumann published the Von Neumann architecture on June 30, 1945. The central processing unit (CPU), the memory, and the input/output devices (I/O) are the main three building blocks of the Von Neumann computer systems connected using the system bus. The components of the model are composed of memory, arithmetic logic unit (ALU), input/output, and the control unit…

Words 1586 - Pages 7

Essay on Database Design

In addition, new information and changes should also be easy to input.” (tech-faq.com) To be useful over a long term the database should be able to store all the records necessary for the business to function as well as be able to get all of this information back in case of a system failure or a crash. If all the information is loss a business could go bankrupt so the database is a fail…

Words 1207 - Pages 5

Essay on Assignment 2 CIS 500 Final Draft

THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA ANALYTICS The increasing volume, variety, and rapidity of information that is being generated today can present businesses with many significant issues. However, this excess of information can also be a great benefit to companies that choose to take advantage of it. Influential big data and analytics solutions are currently being used to analyze the outbreak of information and fundamentally change the way that companies manage their everyday operations. The reward…

Words 866 - Pages 4

Ritter EA Framwork Research Paper

Calvin Ritter IFSM 311: Enterprise Architecture and Systems EA Framework Research Paper Introduction An Enterprise Architecture Framework (EAF) provides principles and practices for creating and using the architecture description of a system. Frameworks are used to help organizations answer specific question. Enterprise Architecture framework importance is de-emphasized deliberately sometimes. Without a framework though, it is impossible to have foreseeable and repeatable outcomes. There…

Words 1426 - Pages 6

Essay on Database Management

such as field’s records and files. A database system offers a unique way of changing or adding data to information systems without disrupting the current system. “The database architecture is the set of specifications, rules, and processes that dictate how data is stored in a database and how data is accessed by components of a system.” "Database Architecture " (2005) Database architecture defines data types, relationships, naming conventions, organization of data and how they interact, anything…

Words 406 - Pages 2

Essay on Information Technology in an Organization: Data Processing

Running Head: Information Technology in an Organization Information Technology in an Organization In today’s society there are many organizations small or large that use information systems. Information systems are used to track transactions, assist management in decision making, and support the overall flow of information in the organization. In general, information systems process data into information and knowledge. Understanding how information flows through…

Words 806 - Pages 4