2007JUL211727
Blast from the past ... I discussed Pub interaction model at slashdot journal and jos social interface design forums way back in 2004SEP09.
Summary
Pub interaction model aids scanning of topic information. Is it good enough to copy existing models?
Message
In my many travels into SIC (Social interactive community) sites that I have noticed a re-occuring interaction model that takes advantage of everyday interaction models most would be familiar with. I call it the 'Pub interaction model'. It probably has some fancy technical name [0]. But for the sake of argument, Pub [1] will do.
What was the last time you went to a Pub (party, class or lunchroom are equally good alternatives)? Imagine walking into the Pub for the first time. Think of the questions you ask yourself as you enter the room?
- How do you choose which group you want to join?
- How do you strike up a conversation with complete newcomers?
- How do you splice a question into the discussion?
The list goes on. Can you see the similiarity between entering a Pub, finding a suitable group, topic and engauging in conversation AND choosing what group, topic to reply in a JOSSID forum? [2]
But how does this relate to software design and SID? [3] Well I actively look for 'Pub' like interaction models as a way to quickly choose what forum I might be able to interact. I can quickly scan the room visually (whos in the room, what topic groups are operating) and aurally (who is saying what) then dive in.
In terms of software lets look at some examples.
Applications
Email clients are a common example. In Thunderbird [4] and Outlook Express for example you can filter your inboxes (walk into the pub and label social groups), then scan the number of topics (listen to the conversation) to see number of emails. FogBUGZ [5] also uses the Pub model when showing a customer problem. Allowing the person(s) responsible to see the whole discussion at a glance (though in the past) to resolve a customer support issue.
Websites
Social interaction sites such as Slashdot or Perlmonks the Pub model I look for here is the slashdot front page [6] or Perlmonk Monastery gates [7]. Both mechanisms allow me to see what groups are discussing what threads and allowing me to make decisions.
Another example where this model is used is blogs (soap box sites). The example here is Monologue [8]. I can quickly scan the site with the Pub model to see if theres a worthy topic to read. There is no feedback on this site (hence the term soap box) but I can see the person talking, scan the topics and skip the noise [9].
But is copying existing models good enough?
'... a particular state of the neurones in the brain is more likely to be followed by another specific state than by a random state ...' [10].
Edward de Bono argues in his book, 'New thinking for the new millennium' [10], that patterns or paths that are built you are less likely to change.
Conclusion
'... the downside of patterns is that once we have set them up we are trapped by them ... we also need the ability to challenge these patterns from time to time in order to set up better patterns ...' [11]
This may be a new field of software development so avoid the trap of simply replacing existing social models, roles or modes of interaction. While you have the chance, don't be constrained by 'old' patterns or paths we observe. Experiment and develop better group interaction models instead. While I find the Pub model advantageous to use and software developer continue to implement them, are we are missing out on designing better social interactions instead of accepting some possibly inferior alternative(s)?
References
[0] Aggregator (eg: news aggregator)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_aggregator
[1] Public house or Pub.
[2] 'Joel On Software Social Interface Design' forum.
[3] Social Interface design
[4] Mozilla Thunderbird email client
www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
[5] FogBugz customer screencap
www.fogcreek.com/FogBUGZ/KB/images/customerCase-large.gif
[6] Slashdot front page
[7] Current monastic discussions on Perl
www.perlmonks.org/index.pl?node_id=131
[8] Mono blog is Monologue
[9] For example, Todd Berman: Responding to a Response
codeblogs.ximian.com/blogs/tberman/archives/000330.html
[10] New Thinking for the New Millennium, Edward de Bono, P14 Viking Press, 1999.
[11] New Thinking for the New Millennium, et.,al. PP14-16.
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2007JUL211727
Blast from the past ... I discussed Pub interaction model at slashdot journal and jos social interface design forums way back in 2004SEP09.
Summary
Pub interaction model aids scanning of topic information. Is it good enough to copy existing models?
Message
In my many travels into SIC (Social interactive community) sites that I have noticed a re-occuring interaction model that takes advantage of everyday interaction models most would be familiar with. I call it the 'Pub interaction model'. It probably has some fancy technical name [0]. But for the sake of argument, Pub [1] will do.
What was the last time you went to a Pub (party, class or lunchroom are equally good alternatives)? Imagine walking into the Pub for the first time. Think of the questions you ask yourself as you enter the room?
- How do you choose which group you want to join?
- How do you strike up a conversation with complete newcomers?
- How do you splice a question into the discussion?
The list goes on. Can you see the similiarity between entering a Pub, finding a suitable group, topic and engauging in conversation AND choosing what group, topic to reply in a JOSSID forum? [2]
But how does this relate to software design and SID? [3] Well I actively look for 'Pub' like interaction models as a way to quickly choose what forum I might be able to interact. I can quickly scan the room visually (whos in the room, what topic groups are operating) and aurally (who is saying what) then dive in.
In terms of software lets look at some examples.
Applications
Email clients are a common example. In Thunderbird [4] and Outlook Express for example you can filter your inboxes (walk into the pub and label social groups), then scan the number of topics (listen to the conversation) to see number of emails. FogBUGZ [5] also uses the Pub model when showing a customer problem. Allowing the person(s) responsible to see the whole discussion at a glance (though in the past) to resolve a customer support issue.
Websites
Social interaction sites such as Slashdot or Perlmonks the Pub model I look for here is the slashdot front page [6] or Perlmonk Monastery gates [7]. Both mechanisms allow me to see what groups are discussing what threads and allowing me to make decisions.
Another example where this model is used is blogs (soap box sites). The example here is Monologue [8]. I can quickly scan the site with the Pub model to see if theres a worthy topic to read. There is no feedback on this site (hence the term soap box) but I can see the person talking, scan the topics and skip the noise [9].
But is copying existing models good enough?
'... a particular state of the neurones in the brain is more likely to be followed by another specific state than by a random state ...' [10].
Edward de Bono argues in his book, 'New thinking for the new millennium' [10], that patterns or paths that are built you are less likely to change.
Conclusion
'... the downside of patterns is that once we have set them up we are trapped by them ... we also need the ability to challenge these patterns from time to time in order to set up better patterns ...' [11]
This may be a new field of software development so avoid the trap of simply replacing existing social models, roles or modes of interaction. While you have the chance, don't be constrained by 'old' patterns or paths we observe. Experiment and develop better group interaction models instead. While I find the Pub model advantageous to use and software developer continue to implement them, are we are missing out on designing better social interactions instead of accepting some possibly inferior alternative(s)?
References
[0] Aggregator (eg: news aggregator)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_aggregator
[1] Public house or Pub.
[2] 'Joel On Software Social Interface Design' forum.
[3] Social Interface design
[4] Mozilla Thunderbird email client
www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
[5] FogBugz customer screencap
www.fogcreek.com/FogBUGZ/KB/images/customerCase-large.gif
[6] Slashdot front page
[7] Current monastic discussions on Perl
www.perlmonks.org/index.pl?node_id=131
[8] Mono blog is Monologue
[9] For example, Todd Berman: Responding to a Response
codeblogs.ximian.com/blogs/tberman/archives/000330.html
[10] New Thinking for the New Millennium, Edward de Bono, P14 Viking Press, 1999.
[11] New Thinking for the New Millennium, et.,al. PP14-16.
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