Incredibly slow

I feel like this process is slowing and I need to find momentum. I've spent the last two weeks reading Geeks Bearing Gifts and Literary Machines - both by Ted Nelson. Now that I have two books under my belt, I feel I have a good bearing to move forward in a positive way. I have a grasp on what my thesis project really is, and small ideas on how to tie together concepts.

Although these two books are my only repertoire thus far, I will have no problem finding other references (scholarly and professional) to use. Believe it or not, I'm not that scared of writing the Literature Review portion either. I have written two in the past and feel confident in that process now. I know that in order to do a good Lit Review, I have to be comfortable with the material at hand. That is what my goal has been during these first weeks of the semester.

Beyond the momentum that I need to find, I do have one additional thought. I've been thinking about the Vignette portion of my thesis proposal and I'm a little confused about what information needs to go in that section. I'd like to fully understand this part in the next few days.

Hypertext Literature Galore

Over the past week, I've been a reading machine. Last week, I received a hard-to-find book called Literary Machines: The report on, and of, Project Xanadu concerning word processing, electronic publishing, hypertext, thinkertoys, tomorrow's intellectual revolution, and certain other topics including knowledge, education and freedom (1981), Mindful Press, Sausalito, California. Although I wish I could say I got through the entire book, I'm about half way through. The book itself is an example of a hypertext system in that it does not flow sequentially from chapter 1 through the end of the book. The author actually suggests reading the book in a non-linear form, reading some or all of Chapter 1 first, then Chapter 2, then one section of Chapter 3. Then, he suggests the reader go back and read Chapter 2 again, then a different section of Chapter 3. There are also instructions for Chapters 4 and 5. This method of reading solidifies his theory that reading and writing doesn't have to be, and shouldn't be, sequential in nature. He suggests that humans do not process information that way, so they shouldn't be forced to. I've found this book so enthralling that I haven't been able to put it down and start anything else.

However, with pending assignments and a project proposal due in a few months, I think I will have to speed up the pace I'm reading this book (and others to come). For the next week, I will be doing another review of Vannevar Bush's As We May Think. I have read this three times before, but never from a historical hypertext perspective. Also on my radar this week is to find some pertinent material from Tim Berner's Lee to help understand how Ted Nelson (and possibly others) affected his innovative product of the 1990s - the World Wide Web. In addition, I will be ordering the book, Geeks Bearing Gifts, which is a historical synopsis of hypertext beginning with the origins of the alphabet.

So I'm not sure if I'm behind or ahead, but it seems that there is a lot of relevant historical literature regarding hypertext. I want to do the best I am capable of doing on this proposal, so I think being well-versed in this material isn't such a terrible thing. Overall, I'd like to start writing in the next week or two. I just feel like I have so much more to read.

Thesis Process Step 1: Reading

I feel like writing a Thesis is a process. A process of reading, writing, rewriting. Reading, writing, rewriting. Editing, reviewing, rewriting.

My project will be dealing with hypertext and looking at its history, and then using its application to create a hypertext system within a Tiddlywiki. During the next week, I will be doing some heavy reading by Ted Nelson. I ordered a highly anticipated (thanks Steve!), and hard-to-find book called Literary Machines: The report on, and of, Project Xanadu concerning word processing, electronic publishing, hypertext, thinkertoys, tomorrow's intellectual revolution, and certain other topics including knowledge, education and freedom (1981), Mindful Press, Sausalito, California. It should be arriving by the weekend.

Beyond that immediate reading, I will also review a web site called HypertextNow that reveals the latest publications about hypertext and some various remarks on hypertext from 1996-1999. This dated information will be valuable on the heels of the explosion of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee in the early 1990's. Some other authors I intend to read another week (not this one) include Vannevar Bush and his famous July 1949 As We May Think article; and Tim Berners-Lee. Both are considered pioneers in hypertext, of different generations and application.

So in conclusion, I will be starting at the beginning. A good read.

I, C, C, and C

The question I get the most is "what is information design and technology?" To which I answer differently each time. To some, design is what they understand and to others, technology is what they understand. But what is it combined? I find that many of my family members do not even understand that there are careers built upon designing information. You can design information graphically or content-based. However the simple connection of design and content do not encapsulate IDandT totally. To really understand IDandT, one must also have a grasp on emerging technologies, concepts, and theories that are ever-evolving. And they must also understand and be willing to adapt to change. All the time. Without it, IDandT wouldn't be what it is. And it wouldn't be so important.

One technology that proves this point is Google Wave. I've put a lot of thought into it lately. I'm not sure I understand how it solves a collaboration problem. What I do understand about it is that it provides instant communications as they occur. For example: RSS feeds, breaking news, and other up-to-date news and information portals/sites provide to-the-minute information. However, it's not truly real-time. A true real-time platform is one where you can see the author as they are completing the work. This also allows an opportunity to study and analyze how the mind of an information designer may work. Although Wave may seem good in theory, I'm not quite bought into the idea that it is the next big technology. People like their information up-to-date and late-breaking, but instantaneous communication as its occurring is unforgiving. And I'm not sure if I want the world to follow my every backspace, Ctrl+Z, and misspelling as they occur.

What I am sure of is that the world and technology is changing in every moment that passes. I've asked myself many times, what would I like to do when I graduate with my IDandT degree? The information world is mine to conquer. And I always conclude with the same answer. As long as it involves the following things, I will be happy.

Information, Creativity, Change, and Challenge.

To Thesis or To Project

So now that I've had a day to think about "to thesis or to project," I've decided that the prospect of a project sounds more satisfying. And, after Steve's recent Tiddlywiki post, I LOVE the idea that he proposed below. Love.

A Hypertextual Interpretation of "How Has the Internet Changed the Way You Think?" - This project interprets a series of answers to that question, posed by Edge, using hypertext to draw links between common concepts and ideas. The narrative describes the underlying motivation behind creating this project, places the project in theoretical context, and assesses the implementation of the project.

It draws on many of my keywords and concepts I started this journey with. And presenting an analysis is always fun (after all, what would this journey be like if it didn't have some good old fashioned fun?).

Moleskine Musings

Welcome everyone! I've began the journey of document my thesis ideas many times before. I even keep my favorite Moleskine with me at all times so I can record them as they occur. But now the time is really here and I need to have THE idea!

Over the past six months, I've thought a lot about the process of the Thesis. I thought it best to start at the beginning with keywords and evolve from there. Some I have noted include: collaboration, emerging technology, new media, social media, subcultures, and the concept that content is king (not in a James-Cameron-king-of-the-world way).

Some ideas written down include:

1. Embracing User-generated content as a catalyst to social change.
2. New media and interactivity - a one-to-many or many-to-many approach?
3. What your Facebook status says about you: Can they be categorized?
4. Texting and microblogging: the age of BBM, SMS, Bit.ly, and everything else acronym.

My place of work is also implementing a Learning Management System in the upcoming months - it will be installed, tested, and rolled out by September. If there was ever a good project to do with perfect timing, it'd be that one. But what research question would I pose? Is it possible to even research and implement simultaneously? Because of the prospect of parallel work, I'm more apt to go the traditional Thesis route.

So, what's my favorite idea? Number 4. Now if I could only give it a little framing.