Moneypenny: lessons from the messy desk
In the context of personal information systems in the work place, a study of the owners of messy desks identifies weaknesses in user's semantic memory skills as the likely cause of this disorganisation. This results in working patterns where material is stc,red in a disorganised fashion, and the subsequent retrieval of items is therefore extremely difficult. Related problems with forming plans are also identified. The universal browser is proposed as a solution to the problem of retrieval for desktop computer technology. This universal browser should allow the rapid examination of item contents within the computer storage system, and consequently the need for user file names is questioned. For planning, a general conceptual technique is proposed and one implementation considered. The Systems investigation into desk usage and the requirements elicitation for a personal information system is described and the Moneypenny prototype used to elicit and evaluate worker needs is presented. It is proposed that in producing interfaces to workplace computer technology that a range of memory skills should be supported, and suitable categories are suggested. The Online Journal is introduced as a solution to the requirements identified in the study, offering benefits for organised and disorganised workers alike. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
messy desk planning browser online journal personal organisers piles heaps human-computer interaction information retrieval mind maps