"A Model for Weblog Research"

Anjo Anjewierden: A Model for Weblog Research

"Given that weblogs are now becoming an object of research for social and computer scientists alike, it is perhaps an idea to look for a model (I hate the word).
One model element some think is important is size. The Weblogging Ecosystem workshop (Edinburgh 2006) is running a data challenge:

Much of the interest in research relating to weblogs involves the analysis of large quantities of data. As part of this workshop, we are very excited to provide a data set to the research community. The aim is to encourage the use of this data to focus the various views and analyses of the blogosphere over a common space...

...

It is actually possible to compress all five dimensions in a single visualisation when we forget about millions of posts and gigabytes of data. Below is a visualisation of a weblog conversation. The dimensions are visualised as follows:

Person. Top to bottom.
Document. Coloured rectangles.
Link. Lines between the rectangles.
Term. Wavering blue line. This one depicts usage of the term blog research over time.
Time. Left to right.



..."

Interesting... I've been saying for a while that this kind of analysis will drive the future of RSS aggregators/readers.

While the analysis itself is interesting, I'm more interested in the navigation/UI possibilities.

The Folder/Channel/Group metaphor is already breaking down for many of us. Tags/labels help extend it a little, but require a common onthology.

What I'd like to see is a new graphic conversation or topic based UI as an extension to the Folder metaphor. Something a little like the above graphic, but cooler and dynamic. Think folders on the left, post test on the top right, conversation map on the bottom right.

The conversation map being a graphic representation of the relationship of the post currently being read to other posts in feeds you subscribe to. Nodes linking to nodes...

And as a twist, showing nodes to feeds you do NOT subscribe to, with an option to easily view those feeds and subscribe to them. (Posts to feeds your subscribed to in color, those you are not, in shades of gray).

A node should also have some indication as to if you've read it or not.

And of course the map is active, so clicking on a node will navigate you to the given post, marking it as read in the process.

For the uber coolness, add 3D to the map (or maybe a treemap?).

The end result being a breaking away from the folder/tag metaphor and providing the reader a wider and more contextual sensitive view of their feeds and posts.

I guess it's time I get to coding... ;)