The document summarizes a research proposal for a graduate student's final project. The student proposes researching how to design an annotation system for professional blogs that uses spatial principles related to physical behaviors to facilitate interpreting hypertext narratives. The research questions examine how annotation systems can support various reading purposes and behaviors, allow juxtaposing different opinions, represent the passage of time, and use spatial viewpoints. Next steps are further research and developing an annotated bibliography.

1. North Carolina State University, College of Design, Department of Graphic and Industrial Design,
Fall 2011, GD581 Final Project Research
Researchable question:
How can the design of an annotation system
for professional blogs use spatial principles related
to physical behavior to facilitate the interpretation
of a hypertext narrative?
Nadya Rodionenko | December 5, 2011
Meredith Davis (Committee Chair)
Denise Gonsalez Crisp, Kermit Bailey

2. WHAT WHY?
Researchable question:
How can the design of an annotation system 1. A layer of user-generated content
on top of the existing resource;
for professional blogs use spatial principles related
to physical behavior to facilitate the interpretation 2. An application that allows users
to create an annotation system.
of a hypertext narrative?
HOW

3. WHAT WHY? PURPOSES OF READING:
Retrieval, reconstruction
1. A layer of user-generated content
Comprehention, future recognition
on top of the existing resource; Summarization
2. An application that allows users Question answering
create an annotation system. Analysis
Memorization
HOW Getting an overview
Entertainment, communication

4. WHAT WHY? PURPOSES OF READING
ACTIVITIES:
● skip over portions of text; speed-reading
1. A layer of user-generated content
on top of the existing resource; ● refocus very quickly between different
materials and sources
2. An application that allows users
create an annotation system. ● integrate information from multiple sources
● reread/re-encounter sections
HOW? ● search for reference materials
● pause on a particular word, phrase, paragraph
● connect the newly gained knowledge
to older materials
● organize easy retrieval of existing information
● contradict, agree, expand on the content
● add links and comments, recommendations,
opinions, questions

5. WHAT WHY? PURPOSES OF READING
ACTIVITIES
TOOLS:
1. A layer of user-generated content
print digital
on top of the existing resource;
highlight highlight
2. An application that allows users label, clip, tag label, clip, tag
create an annotation system. color code color code
write on margins
bookmark bookmark
HOW? underline underline
fold corner
write between lines
PURPOSE ACTIVITIES TOOLS

6. a constructive format that describes a sequence
Researchable question: of non-fictional or fictional events.
How can the design of an annotation system
for professional blogs use spatial principles related
to physical behavior to facilitate the interpretation
of a hypertext narrative?
informed audience with well-developed is a system of cross-referencing linked texts,
critical positions;
that allows users to view information non-sequentially,
an editorial board ensures that the content which is similar to the way humans think — that is,
published professional and trustworthy; by association rather than in a linear sequence.
public discussion of topical social, political, Design Dictionary, Erlhoff M. et al., 2008
and economic events.

7. actions of body
actions of body parts
BODY activities of body
what relationships occur
Researchable question:
time, tempo
How can the design of an annotation system weight, force
for professional blogs use spatial principles related EFFORT space
to physical behavior to facilitate the interpretation flow
of a hypertext narrative?
symmetrical
assymetrical
SHAPE straight, twisted
wide
round
planes
pathways
SPACE extensions
areas
directions

8. Subquestion 1:
What physical behaviors do readers use in processing or interpreting
a hypertext narrative (e. g. highlighting, writing in the margins, placing
one unit of the text to another, etc.) and how might they be supported
by design features?

9. Subquestion 2:
How can the reading space accommodate various purposes
for reading? How do we read on different levels?
text clarify text elaborate

10. Subquestion 3:
How can the spatial arrangement of a reading and annotation space
allow for the juxtaposition of differing opinions?
text researchers
HCI
designers

11. Subquestion 4:
How can the spatial arrangement support shared authoring spaces?
text
1st person's annotations
2nd person's annotations

12. Subquestion 5:
How can annotation represent the idea of time in digital space?
What can the visual organization of annotation tell the readers
about the time and context in which it appeared?
original text
1st comment
2nd comment
timeline
event
event

13. Subquestion 6:
How might a system use spatial principles related to the viewpoint
(e. g. as a spectator vs. participant; flyover vs. walkthrough; inside
vs. outside) to facilitate the interpretation of a hypertext narrative?

14. Subquestion 7:
What do symbolic and diagrammatic elements for annotation
mean and what other metaphors based on spatial arrangements
might exist?

15. Next steps:
● continue small studies and reading
● develop an annotated bibliography
Thank you!