[DG: Open Forum] Access paths

[D. Stuart Freeman]

We have a path like that at Georgia Tech, the solution our institute came
up with was to plant a tree right in the middle of it and re-seed the
grass.  I guess it's prettier than a fence, but it still doesn't solve
the real problem.

On Thu, Aug 05, 2010 at 10:35:11PM -0400, Jim Eng 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:
> 


> 
> 
> 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:
> 


> 
> 
> 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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-- 
D. Stuart Freeman
Georgia Institute of Technology
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