[DG: Open Forum] Access paths

[Pavolka, Rita Kay]

Yep :-). However, there's a simple solution in the path example. Many  
institutions put down wood chips :-)





Rita

(sent from my iphone)

On Aug 5, 2010, at 11:09 PM, "Nate Angell" <nangell at rsmart.com> wrote:

> Great example Jim! I recognize that path from my own visits to UMich.
>
> So what's Sakai's fenced-off path: the back button? ;)
>
> - Nate
>
> On Aug 5, 2010, at 7:35 PM, Jim Eng <jimeng at umich.edu> wrote:
>
>> An off-topic musing:
>>
>> I work in a building that opened about 12 years ago.  Some people  
>> put a lot of thought into the design of the building and how people  
>> would get into it and out of it. Here is a photo taken from just  
>> outside the front door of the building:
>>
>> <IMG00321.jpg>
>>
>>
>> That path started to appear shortly after the building opened.  It  
>> has been used every day by dozens of people -- maybe hundreds of  
>> people.  I have always thought of it as an indication that the  
>> designers who worked so hard on this little part of the university  
>> failed to understand some of the needs of the people trying to get  
>> into and out of this building.  There are several other buildings  
>> off in that direction, as well as a couple parking lots.  And the  
>> only other doors on this side of the building are on the loading  
>> dock.  But the people who used the building were able to correct  
>> the oversight of the designers.  One person after another chose to  
>> use the pretty direct route to the front door (except maybe on  
>> rainy days).  In winter, a walkway through the snow quickly appears  
>> -- following pretty much the same route as this path.
>>
>> Now here's an update:
>>
>> <IMG00322.jpg>
>>
>>
>> Those posts and chains were added yesterday.  I take this as an  
>> indication that someone currently responsible for the design of  
>> this little part of the university saw a problem.  But they blamed  
>> the problem on the people who use this building and decided the  
>> answer was to make it harder to get to and from the building.   
>> Instead of turning the path into a sidewalk, they want to keep  
>> people from using the path.
>>
>> Grrrr.
>>
>> What does this have to do with the design of webapps?  If we see  
>> that people are creating their own paths through our pages, do we  
>> put up fences and barricades?  Or do we recognize the natural paths  
>> identified by our users and help make it easier for our users to  
>> accomplish their goals?
>>
>> Oh, nevermind.
>>
>> Jim
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