[Sigia-l] Findability

[Lars Marius Garshol]

* Derek R.
| 	 
| The problem with 'findability' is, of course, an assumption -- that
| something is good. 

I grant you that the term presumes that, though whether that is a
problem I am less sure.
 
| However, in actual practice: 
| 
| We do not seek or desire something because it is good.
| We deem a thing good because we seek or desire it.

"And what is good, Phaedrus, and what is not good--need we ask anyone
to tell us these things?"

In other words, is the notion of "goodness" really problematic? I
don't think so.
 
| Compare the results for the words 'scan' and 'find' with this in
| mind to see what I mean. One involves 'judgment,'
| 'pre-determination,' 'fixation,' 'disappointment,' and the other
| remains open, and does not -->

That's certainly true. What "findability" presumes is that the user
has already decided that s/he needs information about something, and
set out to find it. Findability is when you can be reasonably certain
that they will succeed. 

Of course, it's not the only requirement for an information system, or
even the most important one, but of the ones we have so far usually
failed to satisfy it is the most important. Or at least the one about
which I care the most.

-- 
Lars Marius Garshol, Ontopian         <URL: http://www.ontopia.net >
ISO SC34/WG3, OASIS GeoLang TC        <URL: http://www.garshol.priv.no >