Aoide

The objective of Aoide’s design idea is to offer an innovative method of visual browsing that invites users to explore and discover materials that the current interface does not offer. Aoide hopes to present this model through using UM Music Library as a prototype. The state-of-the-art browsing system request users to type in keyword searches, where the output of the search generates all materials that are related to the keyword, regardless of the type of media unless stated otherwise. Users can select to further down and filter their options. However, Aoide aims to design a browsing system where the user can explore the library’s collection through visual representation. We also aim to achieve a collaboration platform for users to login. This is created in hopes of achieving effective information exchange for users to recommend browsed items for each other, thereby creating an effective interactive environment and scholarly exchange with peers.

Our design invites users to explore materials in relationship to similar categories of the keyword. This can be thought as presented in a web form of conceptual nodes, where concepts of similar genre and artist would be linked to the keyword. Thus, search items would be presented in related facets that the user is interested in. For example, users may type in a specific album of an artist. Users can browse similar album genre, time frame and albums of the artist through visualization displays.

Aoide aims to exemplify this concept by using the UM Music Library and focusing on audio CD as the main model. Another feature Aoide would like to introduce is to have faculty and students to be able to participate as users by creating accounts. This enables users to participate by giving feedback that will eventually build an interactive community. In the long run, these can pool a base of user data, where other users can rely on this information to make knowledgeable choices. Furthermore, it can pool interesting data where librarians can referenced to in making future purchase decisions and other innovative usage.

However, it is important to note that this serves roughly as a model, but in theory and ideally, could be implemented through every aspect of the library, suitable for each sub-components of the MLibrary from books to movies.