RE: FW: What alternatives are there to "Information Mapping"?

[Kathleen Kuvinka <kkuvinka -at- epicor -dot- com>]

> But to really
> know how a page is designed, you have examine the page 
> closely. That takes
> more than two seconds. In fact, it takes longer than reading 
> a page of plain
> text.

Maybe, but I doubt it. Even so, after you learn how the simple table that we
were referring to is set up, you can quickly find the info over and over
again. I did concede that IM is not for everything, so no need to call me
out there.


> The virtue of simple linear page design is that it does not tend to
> encourage skipping and skimming. If people do skip and skim to find
> information, at least the relationships between pieces of 
> information are
> clearly expressed in liner prose that they have no choice but 
> to read. It
> may take people longer to get information, but it is more 
> likely to be the
> correct information.

Are you really suggesting that all info be presented in the format of a
simple linear page? It does not encourage skimming? Could you support this
assertion somehow? 

> Glibly encouraging people of limited 
> experience to
> try high wire design tricks with their information does not 
> strike me as
> particularly responsible.
> 

I'm sorry, we were talking about a simple three column table that would
probably be used by a manager or HR personnel. We're not trying to change
the world.