Comments on: Serendipitous searching in the real world http://boingboing.net/2008/06/02/serendipitous-search.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: ariadneallan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/02/serendipitous-search.html#comment-201489 ariadneallan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-201489 I'm curious if he found more women doing this kind of searching. I also wonder if a culture that has more interest in recycling objects would even out more on the male/female ration of searchers. I’m curious if he found more women doing this kind of searching. I also wonder if a culture that has more interest in recycling objects would even out more on the male/female ration of searchers.

]]> By: kaosmonkey http://boingboing.net/2008/06/02/serendipitous-search.html#comment-201774 kaosmonkey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-201774 No longer looking for mushrooms hidden beneath a carpet of pine needles. Mind seeks it's own game, foraging for nourishment in the forest of information. I hunt novel patterns in an attempt to feed my head. No longer looking for mushrooms hidden beneath a carpet of pine needles. Mind seeks it’s own game, foraging for nourishment in the forest of information. I hunt novel patterns in an attempt to feed my head.

]]> By: insert http://boingboing.net/2008/06/02/serendipitous-search.html#comment-201268 insert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-201268 I feel significantly less guilty about myself when I browse randomly at a bookstore than when I StumbleUpon, but I guess it's the same thing... I feel significantly less guilty about myself when I browse randomly at a bookstore than when I StumbleUpon, but I guess it’s the same thing…

]]> By: MaliaO http://boingboing.net/2008/06/02/serendipitous-search.html#comment-201843 MaliaO Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-201843 My online searching habits are somewhat similar to my "treasure" hunts. I generally start with a specific task, ie. recently went on my weekly yard sale expedition for vintage fashion accessories, came home with some of those but also with a new desk to replace my old falling apart one, and a gorgeous art print. My best finds are generally "happened" upon and I always leave myself open to changes of direction. I also start out information hunting with a focus but am open to other paths, on recent search for London gangsters, ran across Doug and Dinsdale Piranha, and looked up "litotes." Got the info I needed, had a good laugh, and educated myself. My sense of elation when I find an absolute treasure is not that different than the satisfaction I get from a successful online search. However when I don't find any good treasures on my excursions, I'm mildly disappointed but there's alway next weekend. When I can't find information I think is out there, the frustration level gets pretty high. My online searching habits are somewhat similar to my “treasure” hunts. I generally start with a specific task, ie. recently went on my weekly yard sale expedition for vintage fashion accessories, came home with some of those but also with a new desk to replace my old falling apart one, and a gorgeous art print. My best finds are generally “happened” upon and I always leave myself open to changes of direction. I also start out information hunting with a focus but am open to other paths, on recent search for London gangsters, ran across Doug and Dinsdale Piranha, and looked up “litotes.” Got the info I needed, had a good laugh, and educated myself. My sense of elation when I find an absolute treasure is not that different than the satisfaction I get from a successful online search. However when I don’t find any good treasures on my excursions, I’m mildly disappointed but there’s alway next weekend. When I can’t find information I think is out there, the frustration level gets pretty high.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/06/02/serendipitous-search.html#comment-201395 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-201395 Serendipitous information seeking behavior is not new, but does diverge significantly from most of the fundamental theories. Fundamental theories focus on relevance which is bound tightly to intent (Typically depicted as a pre-cast motive). Serendipitous browsing has little, if any, relationship to relevance (at least as a precondition) to the search initiation. Relevance would only become an issue at the instance of awareness, being the moment in time when discovery, relationship, and applicability merge. Anyone having further interest may wish to explore the Information Science studies by Foster and Ford or by Erdelez. Erdelez, S. (1996a), “Information encountering: a conceptual framework for accidental information discovery”, In P.Vakkari, R. Savolainen and B. Dervin (Eds), Information seeking in context: proceedings of an international conference on research in information needs, seeking, and use in different contexts, Tampere, Finland, Los Angeles, Taylor Graham, pp. 412-421. Erdelez, S. (1996b), Information encountering on the internet, In M.Williams (Ed.) Proceedings of the 17th National Online Meeting, Information Today, Medford (NJ), pp. 101- 107. Erdelez, S. (1999), “Information encountering: it’s more than just bumping into information”, Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 25-29. Serendipitous information seeking behavior is not new, but does diverge significantly from most of the fundamental theories. Fundamental theories focus on relevance which is bound tightly to intent (Typically depicted as a pre-cast motive). Serendipitous browsing has little, if any, relationship to relevance (at least as a precondition) to the search initiation. Relevance would only become an issue at the instance of awareness, being the moment in time when discovery, relationship, and applicability merge. Anyone having further interest may wish to explore the Information Science studies by Foster and Ford or by Erdelez.

Erdelez, S. (1996a), “Information encountering: a conceptual framework for accidental
information discovery”, In P.Vakkari, R. Savolainen and B. Dervin (Eds), Information
seeking in context: proceedings of an international conference on research in information
needs, seeking, and use in different contexts, Tampere, Finland, Los Angeles, Taylor
Graham, pp. 412-421.
Erdelez, S. (1996b), Information encountering on the internet, In M.Williams (Ed.)
Proceedings of the 17th National Online Meeting, Information Today, Medford (NJ), pp. 101-
107.
Erdelez, S. (1999), “Information encountering: it’s more than just bumping into
information”, Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp.
25-29.

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