Information · Findability

Transient Broadcast vs. URL Addressable

Rob Relyea · Original date not recorded · Restored archive post · Edited by Muhd Radhi Wahab
Restored from the windows-now.com archive. This post was originally published by Rob Relyea; the original publication date was not recorded. It is reproduced faithfully for its historical and reference value, with the original author credited. If you are the author and would like this amended or removed, contact us.

I spend much of my time creating or finding information.  I'm always motivated to publish the information I create for better findability.  I've got a bunch of random thoughts in my head about how this can be done...I need to get them down in a more sharable, digestable form over time.  Until then, here are a few random thoughts...

Transient Broadcast vs. URL Addressable Information

Many problems come about because information publishers have to know to create a bridge between broadcast technologies which are transient (email) and publish technologies which are URL addressable.

Users receiving email absorb as much information as they deem necessary at the time, but more importantly, they understand what type of information it was and where they can find it in the future if they need it.

Often times, users only remember who knows something, so the first thing they do is ask that person for the information.  Clearly, it is advantageous if a publisher of information can avoid most of these simple "where is" or "what is" requests.

Given that a user knows the owner or expert in an area, how can we make sure that the correct information is published and findable? 

Some guidelines

  • When publishing information using transient broadcasts, users should refer to the long living URL addressable form of the information. 
  • Publish a URL that allows people to find the things that you know and work on.

[Should that URL be human readable or machine consumable?  "Topic Maps" (just stumbled on this morning The Architecture Journal) may be an idea worth exploring]

I'm trying to explore my thoughts around information, links, and urls for my Url Manifesto

Frequently asked

What is the difference between transient broadcast and URL addressable information?

Broadcast technologies such as email are transient — users absorb as much information as they deem necessary at the time. URL addressable information is published in a long-living form that people can find in the future if they need it.

How can a publisher avoid repeated "where is" or "what is" requests?

When publishing information using transient broadcasts, users should refer to the long living URL addressable form of the information, and publish a URL that allows people to find the things that you know and work on.