Greetings all.
I have been following this conference with some interest. Myself and Daphne
Charles are currently exploring new approaches to human-computer interface
(HCI)design for making monument data accessible across the internet.
Our main aim is to increase the ease with which a 'non-expert' user can
navigate his/her way around complex data. This is achieved by placing the
data into a context that is applicable, and therefore understandable, to the
user. This necessitates a pre-determined definition of the user and their
needs or wants. To this end we have selected our 'target' user as an
intelligent twelve year old, and all decisions and actions are based on
applicability to this user.
We are currently discussing terminology and classification issues with a
view to compiling our own list of monument types and temporal-divisions.
Based on our target user, our list will include the sort of terms that are
currently used in primary and secondary schools; for example, Anglo-Saxons
and Vikings, or Tudors and Stuarts.
This conference has recently identified this 'user-centred' approach
(Matthew Stiff, John Palmer and Gillian Sheldrick). However, I find the
debate concerning a preference between dates or periods a little confusing.
I am not sure that either approach is any better than the other. Surely if
we are to, as Matthew Stiff quite rightly suggests, address the needs of the
public (or whichever user is identified) the optimum solution as to provide
as many clues as possible. Is it not possible to indicate a period with both
name and dates?
Mike Pringle
Mike Pringle
Senior Software Developer (Virtual Reality)
English Heritage
Telephone: 01793 414841
Software Services
National Monuments Record Centre
Great Western Village
Kemble Drive
Swindon
SN2 2GZ
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