Looks like the Strategic Content Alliance are alpha testing a project called 'CenturyShare', "a prototype service that aims to analyse, aggregate and augment a wide range of content from various trusted public sector sources to present them 'through time'."
It would be great if the public sector content were in the public domain or under an open license! J. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Dear all, We are pleased to announce that the first 'alpha' version of the Strategic Content Alliance BBC UK CenturyShare prototype is now ready. We would like to invite you, as practitioners and policy-makers from the Strategic Content Alliance's key audiences for a user-testing workshop of this innovative resource. The outcomes of this workshop will inform the final version of this prototype and any future developments. The workshop will be intensive, but hopefully fun; will involve putting you in the position of a user of CenturyShare, so that we can collect general impressions and specific usability problems. This will help improve the design and make it more effective, efficient and enjoyable to use. INTRODUCTION - about the BBC UK CenturyShare project Connecting up disparate content is a key element of the Strategic Content Alliance's vision. But how to organise that content in a way that is intuitive and engaging for the user? One solution being tested by the SCA and its partners is to use the notion of 'time'. It is the concept underpinning BBC UK CenturyShare, a prototype service that aims to analyse, aggregate and augment a wide range of content from various trusted public sector sources to present them 'through time'. The project builds on the BBC Memoryshare web service, which is a living archive of memories from 1900 to the present day. Members of the public can contribute, share and browse memories of life experiences, which are displayed on a timeline or can be found through a keyword search. While Memoryshare is based primarily on user-generated content, CenturyShare will draw together resources from a whole variety of public sector collections, bringing them together in the same place for the first time. As well as BBC Archive material, it will also include content from the cultural sector's pilot Discover service. This is a repository and search service of more than half a million records from over 20 collections of national, regional and local scope, including the Museum of London's Exploring 20th-Century London collection and The British Library's Collect Britain. The diversity of the content also sets CenturyShare apart. Memoryshare is predominantly text-based but CenturyShare will provide access to all kinds of media, from text and pictures to sound and moving images. In addition to the 'time' concept, it is envisaged that users will be able to search and browse the service against other criteria such as subject. Six themes were chosen to highlight content through time: specific date (1960); people (Elizabeth Garrett Anderson); places (Liverpool; the coast); and activities (photography); and national events (1908 & 1948 Olympics). WORKSHOP - 19th February 12-3.45pm This workshop will take place on the 19th February from 12 till 3.45pm. A buffet lunch will be provided. This workshop will take place in the King's College London computer labs on the Strand. Further details will be circulated to delegates. Schedule: 12.00-12.30 Lunch 12.30-12.45 Introduction (David Jennings and Seb Schmoller, CenturyShare project team) 12.45-1.30 Session One - working in pairs for the 'Think Aloud' session 1.30-1.45 coffee 1.45-2.30 Session Two - working in pairs again, swap user/observer roles 2.30-3.00 working in pairs, list the 3-5 critical issues 3.00 -3.30 Group Discussion and coffee - Share issues and reflect on experience of sessions 3.30-3.45 Closing remarks Please indicate your attendance at your earliest opportunity as places are strictly limited. Economy-class travel and subsistence will be reimbursed where needed. Please email me in this regard. Please pass on this invitation to interested colleagues. Warm wishes, Emma Beer _______________________________________________ okfn-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.okfn.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/okfn-discuss
