Hi all, Austin wrote:
>> Structured information is an artificial artifact needed by >> computers in >> most cases. We humans to not need it or want it! We are >> visual! (That is >> our freedom) >Well, humans *do* need structure (we're not very efficient in an >unorganized environment), but your point is very valid. >That said, we ARE using computers. There are obvious advantages for doing >so, and the computer DOES need structure for it to best manage and then >disseminate it in a plethora of formats to display on a range of >presentation devices. >The whole separation of content vs. presentation offers the one main >benefit of allowing content to be delivered in an infinite number of ways >to an infinite number of presentation devices. It's impressive how people take something out of context and republish it and argue against it. I would say that this is because that by it self it hit a central nerve of discussion :) Usability (this is the part of a machine that is related to humans). But is also impressive how people did not comment my example using this same list as an object to study. Probably is because Information Structure and related benefits is only good for others not ourselves :) >Therefore, it *is* important for the content author to begin thinking in a >structured manner. Structure does not hinder creative freedom. Also do not confuse the need for Information Structure with Structured Thinking and Human Organization (all of them need structure but we are not talking about the same objects). Why? First of all Information Structure due to computer needs a sequential reasoning process that is hardly compatible with creative thought. I can go to some extent to organize my writing enough for readers to understand it, now for computers, cost effectiveness must be analyzed with ones business context and objectives because inherently it carries addition costs (when I write I count on human readers intelligence to understand it, assimilate it and transform it, not computers). Best regards, Nuno Lopes Independent Consultant. -- http://cms-list.org/ trim your replies for good karma.
