[Sigia-l] Faceted Search - non-library, non ecommerce sites

[Ziya Oz]

Katie Ware:

> ...having numerous filter options for a search is not unlike "advanced"
> search. Which we have found that many users don't bother to use. The google
> effect, as it were.

That's ironic. With the recent iGoogle universal search, Google just got
into the 'faceted' navigation biz.

Try googling for "php". Underneath the Google logo, you'll see: Web | Code |
Books | Blogs | Groups
For "new york": Web | Images | News

(Of course, in a typically crude Google visual style, you'll also see a band
of facets on top with same/similar labels, but that's another thread.)

The trick any filtering operation is not to overwhelm the user. On that
point Google is on the right track here.

Generally speaking there are two kinds of facets that can be exposed. A
fixed number of 'standard' facets all or most of which pretty much fit any
query phrase. (See facet choices above for Google.) Or a more
fluid/arbitrary set of facets that are derived dynamically from the query
phrase. 

The former is likely an easier cognitive load due to consistency, and the
latter more precise due to its specificity.

----
Ziya

In design, interaction is the last resort.