THESIS:

Developing a web-based New Media channel for pleasant and diverging exploration of information spaces

Abstract

The information inherent in web media objects is constantly changing as new knowledge gets published and reacted upon. However, people still access pages with frequently changing contents in a discreet fashion and navigate them from pit-stop to pit-stop often returning to search engines and link lists to contextualize or search for elements of their interest. We aim to build a dynamic media channel that harvests media objects from web sources according to a channel’s interest formula, and then dynamically passes these objects to its spectators. The latter’s interests contribute to the channel’s interest formula by interacting with appealing objects through an interface that segregates between zones of direct and peripheral attentions. Direct attention is devoted to a certain centralized group of objects while objects of relation, similarity, or of providence keep surfacing in the contour, creating a sense of divergent exploration and discovery [kerne]. Pleasance is achieved by using calm technology principles in designing for reflection and concentration rather than efficiency [weiser, sense&sensitivity].