Information Architecture	Living in Information Space

Describing abstract destinations

Content versus Index Addressing

Information can be described according to what it is ("content addressing") or where it is ("location addressing") alternatively, you can describe the path to find it.

Easy to describe, difficult to find

There are destinations in abstract space that are easy to describe, but difficult to find.

Where is the "five"?

Wayfinding

In the physical world

Information structures physical space according to our destination.

In the information world

Pick a number.

Now find it.

Alternative information spaces

What if they were page numbers in a book?

How do you look for an entry in a dictionary?

Structure of abstract space

What is the structure of these information spaces?

			A
		A-C?	B
	A-F?		C
			D
		D-F?	E
A-L?			F
			G
		G-I?	H
	G-L?		I
			J
		J-L?	K
			L
			M
		M-O?	N
	M-R?		O
			P
		P-R?	Q
M-Z?			R
			S
		S-U?	T
	S-Z?		U
			V
		V-Z?	Y
			Z

Algorithms

This procedure, dividing the space into smaller halves, is known as binary search.

Algorithms are procedures for constructing and navigating abstract spaces. A typical example is a binary tree constructor algorithm.

Information in physical space

Physical space can be given abstract content through information design.

Physical space can also be navigated using abstract algorithms: