Beyond Navigation as Metaphor

The popular view of navigation is that it is a conscious, goal directed activity i n which someone is trying to reach a destination. Such a view of navigation i s essentially individualistic, objectivist and cognitive. Just as Lynch's aim i n trying to specify the basic, discrete units of (urban) space have had a significant impact on urban planning and design, so the metaphorical use of the concept of navigation in information space may lead to effective and important design decisions. However, whether this view of navigation can act as the basis of an understanding of what people do in such spaces is another matter. The crucial thing missing form the traditional geographies and traditional views of navigation is the failure to appreciate how environments are conceived by people as opposed to simply perceived by people. An environment is not simply some physical structure to which humans must adapt. People play a role in producing the space, through their activities and practice. A semiotic analysis of space recognises that there are many different views of space and that space is a subjectively defined concept. There is a context to space which needs to be communicated, negotiated and understood between people. More than just space, there is the idea of place. People produce or construct their places at different times and there is a knock on effect from one place to another. In this chapter some implications of taking this different view of information space are explored. The popular view of navigation is that it is a conscious, goal directed activity in which someone is trying to reach a destination. Such a view of navigation is essentially individualistic, objectivist and cognitive. Just as Lynch's aim in trying to specify the basic, discrete units of (urban) space have had a significant impact on urban planning and design, so the metaphorical use of the concept of navigation in information space may lead to effective and important design decisions. However, whether this view of navigation can act as the basis of an understanding of what people do in such spaces is another matter. The crucial thing missing form t h e traditional geographies and traditional views of navigation is the failure to appreciate how environments are conceived by people as opposed to simply perceived by people. An environment is not simply some physical structure to which humans must adapt. People play a role …