Introduction to the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA)

The Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) is an XML-based, end-to-end architecture for authoring, producing, and delivering technical information. This architecture consists of a set of design principles for creating 'information-typed' modules at a topic level and for using that content in delivery modes such as online help and product support portals on the Web. This document is a roadmap for DITA: what it is and how it applies to technical documentation.

IBM (2001). Articles>Information Design>XML>DITA

An Introduction to the Principles of an SGML Application  

SGML (ISO 8879-1986, The Standard Generalized Markup Language) is now in the mainstream of document design and development. Effective application of this International Standard demands a through understanding of Document Analysis and the four components of an SGML Application. The SGML Declaration establishes the overall syntax. The SGML Prolog uses this syntax to define a document model. An SGML Instance is a data file created in conformance with the Prolog's model and an SGML Canonical file is the output ofParsing the Instance. This paper reviews the application and interrelationship of these components.

Oster, John W. II. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Information Design>SGML

Introduction to XML

XML, the Extensible Markup Language, has gone from the latest buzzword to an entrenched eBusiness technology in record time. This newly revised tutorial discusses what XML is, why it was developed, and how it's shaping the future of electronic commerce. It also covers a variety of important XML programming interfaces and standards, and ends with two case studies showing how companies are using XML to solve business problems.

Tidwell, Doug. IBM (2002). Resources>Education>Information Design>XML

Introduction to XML Document Object Model

Learn about XML and the hierarchical structure of the Document Object Model. Nodes, NodeLists, NameNodeMaps, as well as properties such as parentNodes, childNodes, nodeNames, and nodeValues are explored, explained and code is given.

Gokul, Gayathri. ASP Free (2002). Articles>Information Design>XML

Introduction to XPath

XPath is a language for addressing parts of an XML document, designed to be used by both XSLT and XPointer. In this article we will learn about XPath, XPath expressions and how to use XPath in .NET and Java.

Zaman, Mamun. Dev Articles (2007). Articles>Information Design>XML>XSL

Is Anal Retentive Hyphenated?

If you publish something on the Web and you get it wrong, fix it and move on. View the Web as a temporary home for your designs and ideas. If we allow ourselves to become bogged down in a morass of corrective detail, we'll miss the bigger picture and stifle creativity in ways we can't yet imagine.

Shafer, Dan. Builder.com (1998). Design>Information Design>Editing

Is the Internet a Self-Correcting Mechanism?  

The hype surrounding the hype surrounding the Internet has made it into all kinds of animals. But it's a self-correcting mechanism.

Fleishman, Glenn. Adobe Magazine (1996). Articles>Information Design>Collaboration

Issues in Information Modeling  

A brief overview of a unified content strategy.

Kostur, Pamela. STC Region 7 Proceedings (2002). Articles>Information Design>Content Strategy

Issues of Saliency and Recognition in the Search for Web Page Bookmarks

Describes the effect of bookmark naming on bookmark recognition. The purpose was to provide empirically-determined guidelines for web producers on how to title pages in order to optimise the recognition of bookmarks by users, and to increase the rate of revisitation as a result.

Poole, Alex. Alex Poole (2005). Books>Information Design>Usability>Web Browsers

It's All in the Process  

Information design, according to practitioners like the Berlin-, London-, and San Francisco-based firm MetaDesign, is about more than just conveying complex information clearly. To work well, it has to be a process in which designers and clients act as partners.

Senechal, Ann. Adobe Magazine (1997). Design>Information Design>Workflow

The Joint Information Systems Committee

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) supports further and higher education by providing strategic guidance, advice and opportunities to use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to support teaching, learning, research and administration. JISC is funded by all the UK post-16 and higher education funding councils.

JISC. Organizations>Information Design

Judgment Day: Google Strikes Back

Google has never cared for search engine optimization and has always looked at it as an attempt to taint what they hold as precious. The question that must be asked is, 'Why?' Why does Google see search engine optimization as the enemy and are they justified in their thinking?

Angeletti, Mark. Search-This (2003). Articles>Information Design>Search>Search Engine Optimization

Keeping Pace with Change

Documentation isn't the most fun part of design and IA, but does it have to be the most painful? Samantha Bailey looks at a tool that may help.

Bailey, Samantha. Boxes and Arrows. Articles>Documentation>Information Design

Keeping Tabs

The original tab signaled an information storage revolution and helped enable everything from management consulting to electronic data processing.

Tenner, Ed. Technology Review (2005). Articles>User Interface>Information Design>History

Keyword Perspective: Avoid This Mistake At All Cost

In this article, we are going to discuss a major problems involving keyword selection for existing businesses. It is a simple mistake, but one most people do not think about. The two prime Internet marketing platforms are pay-per-click advertising and search engine optimization. The issue we are going to discuss today applies equally to either of these platforms as well as any other internet advertising you undertake.

Pires, Halstatt. Ezine Articles (2006). Articles>Information Design>Metadata>E Commerce

Keyword Research and Product Lines

As you have probably heard over and over, keyword research is a pivotal step for success. Taken a step further, it can develop your product lines for you.

Pires, Halstatt. Ezine Articles (2006). Articles>Information Design>Metadata>E Commerce

Knowledge Audit: Is it Necessary for Your Organization?  

Views on various dimensions of the knowledge audit (KA) process, and how organizations can use this tool to achieve organizational objectives. During the discussion, participants analyzed the pre-requisites, advantages, and process of the knowledge audit. This article presents a summarized version of the issues discussed.

George, Ginu. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Information Design>Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management Common Body of Knowledge

Knowledge resides in the user and not in the collection [of information]. It is how the user reacts to a collection of information that matters.

Malhotra, Yogesh. KMnetwork (2007). Resources>Knowledge Management>Information Design>Body of Knowledge

Knowledge Management--Issues and Challenges in the Corporate World

The first of those challenges is merely getting individuals within the company to communicate with each other, wherever they are located. Many organizations have trouble getting people to share information who aren't on the same floor, so adding remote workers or those in other geographical locations can prove difficult. Corporations are realizing how important it is to 'know what they know' and to be able to make maximum use of the knowledge. This knowledge resides in many different places, such as, databases, knowledge bases, filing cabinets, and people's heads, and it is impossible to keep track of and make use of this distributed knowledge. Knowledge Management (KM) needs careful planning and analysis. While technology can support KM, it is not the be all and end all of KM. Knowledge Management decisions should be based on who (people), what (knowledge), and why (business objectives). Critical success factors for KM can be broadly categorized into four classes: people, processes, technology, and sustained strategic commitment. The four pillars of the model are also used to explain the critical success factors in Knowledge Management.

Kumar, Pankaj and Jaya Kalra. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Information Design>Knowledge Management>Workplace

A Knowledge Network Constructed by Integrating Classification, Thesaurus and Metadata in a Digital Library

Knowledge management in digital libraries is a universal problem. Keyword-based searching is applied everywhere no matter whether the resources are indexed databases or full-text Web pages. In keyword matching, the valuable content description and indexing of the metadata, such as the subject descriptors and the classification notations, are merely treated as common keywords to be matched with the user query. Without the support of vocabulary control tools, such as classification systems and thesauri, the intelligent labor of content analysis, description and indexing in metadata production are seriously wasted.

Jun, Wang. ASIST (2002). Articles>Information Design>Metadata

La Importancia de Definir una Metodología Para Diseños y Rediseños de Sedes Web

En los últimos años la tendencia en el desarrollo de sitios y negocios virtuales ha proliferado incontrolablemente, en la mayoría de casos sin una adecuada sistematización de sus procesos, lo que a corto o medio plazo le significa a la empresa gastos más elevados que la solución inicial. Por esta razón es necesario ser metódicos desde un principio.

Logrono, Luis A. Herrera. Nosolousabilidad.com (2003). (Spanish) Design>Web Design>Information Design

The Language of Color

Color motivates, excites, draws attention and provides emphasis.  It is one part of the coordinated effort to effectively communicate in information design. Color has long been thought to be only for embellishment or decoration. But if used intelligently, color can help give visual order to complex information. It can attract, enlighten and engage, and thus, add value.

Dowd, Tim. EServer (2001). Design>Graphic Design>Information Design

Layman's Guide to Web Syndication

Syndication has taken the web industry by storm. It's used everywhere. Talk to a web developer and they'll tell you they've been using it for years. But, as with a lot of things geek, those on the cutting-edge often forget to tell others how to use the new technology.

Mercurytide (2006). Articles>Web Design>Information Design>RSS

The Lazy IA's Guide to Making Sitemaps

Sitemaps are common deliverables, desired by clients who want a visual representation of a site. Since they are rarely used to make decisions, information architects may not consider them the valuable tools they are. The effort required to make and maintain them requires time that might be better used elsewhere. In fact, I would suggest that making sure the little boxes line up is a waste of an IA's mental abilities.

Turbek, Stephen. Boxes and Arrows (2006). Articles>Web Design>Information Design>Sitemaps