Comments on: On content as infrastructure http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/09/27/on-content-as-infrastructure/ apparently much happier in person Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:03:04 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ken Udas http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/09/27/on-content-as-infrastructure/#comment-119988 Ken Udas Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:32:54 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/09/27/on-content-as-infrastructure/#comment-119988 I too agree, I am wondering if David was thinking of infrastructure generically as a framework that supports structures. In our current context we are not supporting a physical structure using physical infrastructure. Neither the structure nor infrastructure has to be fixed like physical infrastructure. Content instead could be the digital assets that support knowledge structures, tools, and activities enabling creativity, use, generation, and regeneration of the structure and infrastructure. Perhaps the use of the term “infrastructure” as it applies to “content” unnecessarily and too easily points to physical infrastructure like wires, pipes, and girders. Just a thought. I too agree, I am wondering if David was thinking of infrastructure generically as a framework that supports structures. In our current context we are not supporting a physical structure using physical infrastructure. Neither the structure nor infrastructure has to be fixed like physical infrastructure. Content instead could be the digital assets that support knowledge structures, tools, and activities enabling creativity, use, generation, and regeneration of the structure and infrastructure.

Perhaps the use of the term “infrastructure” as it applies to “content” unnecessarily and too easily points to physical infrastructure like wires, pipes, and girders. Just a thought.

]]> By: Steve Matthews http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/09/27/on-content-as-infrastructure/#comment-119690 Steve Matthews Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:40:31 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/09/27/on-content-as-infrastructure/#comment-119690 I would agree. A lot of value to content is in the context, and without an understanding of how & why it was created, the author who created it, and why it was originally important... the next user is stuck starting from scratch. I wouldn't describe content as infrastructure either, but like you D'Arcy, can see the value in open access. Content when available & open to humans can lead to many different perspectives of this context, and that while a librarian may apply a controlled vocabulary offering control of finding similar items, 'a crowd' may apply a tagging system that delivers creativity & a deeper understanding of which classifying terms are more natural or innate to the audience in question. I would agree. A lot of value to content is in the context, and without an understanding of how & why it was created, the author who created it, and why it was originally important… the next user is stuck starting from scratch.

I wouldn’t describe content as infrastructure either, but like you D’Arcy, can see the value in open access. Content when available & open to humans can lead to many different perspectives of this context, and that while a librarian may apply a controlled vocabulary offering control of finding similar items, ‘a crowd’ may apply a tagging system that delivers creativity & a deeper understanding of which classifying terms are more natural or innate to the audience in question.

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