More 2003 IA Summit - Trip Reports
Stacy Surla shares her thoughts on the IA Summit. Comment to ssurla@aspensys.com.

Model of Attraction
Thomas Vanderwal, INDUS Corporation

The model of attraction is an expanded way of thinking about the information lifecycle.

Up till now we've thought about the user's relationship with information in terms of wayfinding. This omits several important aspects of the whole. The model of attraction includes these other aspects. Phases of user's relationship with information include:

• Seeking information: search, navigation
• Retaining information: what users do to store and maintain access (e.g. bookmarks, MyAmazon)
• Information following: what users use to keep information close to them (e.g. PDAs)

Basically, consideration of the user's relationship with information with respect to websites should continue beyond findability and include retainability and followability - that is, should include how users maintain their information collections, and the physical devices they use to keep information close.

I think there should be some ramifications for personalization here. The DCIA group is discussing having Thomas Vandewal give a local presentation on the model of attraction. Such a session would be a good environment for discussing the model's possible practical applications.