[Sigia-l] Re narrative in IA

[Scott Paterson]

In _Interface Culture_ Johnson describes Simonides, I believe, use of spatial constructions to recall events, stories, etc. To recall and event or story he would simply navigate back through that spatial construction in his head and the memories would be triggered. It's a matter of associating bits of memories with spatial elements.  A crude explanation but I hope you get the idea.

Another interesting reading is Bruce Chatwin's _Songlines_ that describes aborginal Australian's use of song to traverse the continent following paths and events of their ancestors.

Having done a recent PDA-based project on mapping (www.pdpal.com) I was amazed how people wayfind and what they use or don't use to get around. As a former bike messenger, I also had my methods, but I found a developed sense of awareness of flow(sans signage) that I'd not used as a pedestrian. Thus my intrique with Eric's post about other strategies for structuring experience.

Best,
[sgp]

<snip>
I would argue that "wayfinding" isn't what's distracting, but that signage that
has been designed for highways in an effort to facilitate wayfinding might be.
People do wayfinding and have been since the days of hunting and gathering.
It's how we get from one place to another by interpreting environmental cues
and without the use of instrumentation such as compasses. Even if the pavement
styles differ, people will still have to look for landmarks on roadsides, find
the sun or mountain peak to get oriented to the cardinal directions, etc.
Wayfinding, navigation, and guided movement (making up a term here) aren't
mutually exclusive -- they're all ways for people get from one place to
another.
<snip>
Ruth