Academic Journals

A few days ago I suggested that you should head on over to Springer Computer Science Reading Room and sign-up. I promised to follow-up with some thoughts on why you should do this. Well, here they are:

In the practice of modern information architecture, I purport that a person must have interest or skill in three areas (technology, business, and design). The more practical that experience the better. But of course it is impossible to achieve granular hands-on experience in all three areas. Rather a person usually has deep experience in one or two areas and then augments his or her inexperience in the other area(s) with academic study and theory.

In my case, I have formal training/practice in technology and business but most of my design “experience” is book-learned or self taught through play. Lucky, for me there is a wealth of detailed and academic information for me on the subject of design. Moreover design, in Vancouver, is anchored by the exceptional Emily Carr Institute and other great institutions. This has created a great community where I can find tutelage or take classes to improve my knowledge of design.

I think that in Vancouver; it is much easier for a technologist to become immersed in good design then it is for a designer to become immersed in good technology. Indeed, most of the “technology” classes I see at post secondary institutions deal with technology at a very low level. The offerings seem concerned with how to program, how to network machines together etc.

Don’t get me wrong, this technical “stuff” is important but it is not really what I mean when I say a practitioner of Information architecture should understand technology. I am talking about the application of technology at a more humanistic level. For example, How can universal design spur universal access and improve the use of technology. How can we use technology to improve security while respecting the fundamental rights and freedom of the individuals. How can we introduce the power of technologies to our children so that they can filter and re-shape knowledge not create myopic communities that only access information that supports their viewspoints?

To me, these are important questions and are somewhat too academic or cerebral for the everyday technology course. Yet, these questions still require an intimate knowledge of low level technology (Programming, TCP/IP etc) to fully explore and resolve. So how does one “bone-up” on technology from this perspective? Well one of my favorite sources is academic journals and my favourite source is Springer

Now, I can’t afford to purchase articles or journals but every so often my employer will allow me to buy one or two. At other times, I have considered taking evening courses just so I could access the journal. Indeed, most universities buy an institutional licenses and then offer the students free access to a selection of the Springer journals. Finally, as I previously mentioned, Springer is nice enough to offer free access from time-to-time (hint download as many as you can for reading at a later date)

So in the end, by whatever legal means necessary. I strongly suggest you access and read academic computer journals that are of interest to you.