[Sigia-l] Less Spatiality, More Semantics?

[Richard_Dalton at Vanguard.com]

Peter wrote:
> > There are interesting approaches, does anyone have any examples that 
we
> > could talk about to further clarify and advance the topic?
>
> Well, here's one way I understand it.
>
> Amazon.com utilizes both spatial and semantic processing of information.
>
> That which supports spatial processing includes the tabs, the 
breadcrumbs,
> the "browse path", the set of topic links at the bottom of a book page.
>
> That which supports semantic processing are search, and, perhaps most
> famously, "People Who Bought This Also Bought...". The latter is about 
some
> understanding of the "meaning" of the product in view, and how its 
"meaning"
> is illuminated through relationships with other products.

Bear with me - i'm trying to think this through ... I can understand that 
if the "spatial" organization schemes have been defined fairly arbitrarily 
then any "semantic" schemes will be the ones which have the most 'meaning' 
to users and be the most effective in helping the user form semantic 
relationships between products/information.

If, however, the "spatial" schemes have also been designed with User Tasks 
and Goals in mind then don't they, by definition, also approach things 
from a fairly "semantic" perspective?

 - Richard Dalton