[Dialogue] Generative Empty Space

[Ray & Elaine Richmond]

Wow!! and some people complain about 'our' jargon!!
Elaine Richmond

-----Original Message-----
From: dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net
[mailto:dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of David Dunn
Sent: Wednesday, 30 May 2007 8:16 AM
To: 'Dialogue' Listserv; ICA ToP Trainers
Subject: [Dialogue] Generative Empty Space

I thought that many of you would get a kick out of this abstract for a paper
called:

> "Generative semantic clustering in spatial hypertext"
> 
> ABSTRACT
> 
> This paper presents an iterative method for generative semantic 
> clustering of related information elements in spatial hypertext 
> documents. The goal is to automatically organize them in ways that are 
> meaningful to the user. We consider a process in which elements are 
> gradually added to a spatial hypertext. The method for generating 
> meaningful layout is based on a quantitative model that measures and 
> represents the mutual relatedness between each new element and those 
> already in the document. The measurement is based on attributes such 
> as metadata, term vectors, user interest expressions, and document 
> locations. We call this model relatedness potential, because it 
> represents how much the new element is related and thus attracted to 
> existing elements as a vector field across the space. Using this field 
> as a gradient potential, the new element will be placed near the most 
> attracted elements, forming clusters of related elements. The relative 
> magnitude of contribution of attributes to relatedness potential can 
> be controlled through an interactive interface. Unlike prior 
> clustering methods such as k-means and self-organizing-maps, 
> relatedness potential works well in iterative systems, in which the 
> collection of elements is not defined a priori. Further, users can 
> invoke relatedness potential to re-cluster elements, as they engage in 
> on-the-fly provisional acts of direct manipulation reorganization and 
> latching of a few most significant elements. A preliminary study indicates
that users find this method generates spatial hypertext documents that are
easier to read.

I read that as an astonishingly verbose definition of "gestalting" or most
specifically, "clustering" as practiced by ToP facilititators and others.

:")

David Dunn

PS.
Actually quite interesting, isn't it!

--
David Dunn
www.mirrorcommunication.com
david at mirrorcommunication.com
720-314-5991
Skype: dmirror

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