• Course: CS110
• Name: SooYoung Jung
• Abstract Due Date: 8/30/00
• Date: 8/30/00
• Article Title: Finding and Reminding - File Organization from the Desktop
• Author: Barreau, Deborah and Nardi, Bonnie A
• Journal Ref: SIGCHI Bulletin, July 1995, Volume 27, Number 3, pp. 39-43
• Formatter: HTML

The Authors, Barreau, Deborah and Nardi, Bonnie A, studied two different ways users organize and find files on their computers. Barreau researched seven people that how they organized and search the files from their computers. Seven people were users of DOS, Windows, and OS/2. On the other hand, Nardi gathered information from 15 people who use Macintosh. The result of the study was unexpected. There were more similarities than differences.

The main difference is

• Use of subdirectories.

All Macintosh users and only the two experienced users from DOS, Windows, and OS/S group use subdirectories. On the other hand, the similarities were:

• A preference for location-based search for finding files;
• The critical reminding function of file placement;
• The use of three types of information: ephemeral, working and archived;
• Lack of importance of archiving files. (40)

People liked to find the file using location-based strategy which is that the user guesses the location at the first and try to look up certain directories or diskettes. Using an application, such as file finder, to find the file were the last strategy. Users, who use higher level of operating system such as Macintosh, Windows, and OS/S, had more scope of creating ways to use file location as reminders because of GUI. Also, people keep ephemeral information at the visible place such as desktop. Working information, which is frequently used information, was placed at the favorite location so people can find them easily. Finally, archived information is kept at the place that is deeper than working information because the archived information, which is work already done or historical information, is not directly relevant to the current work but they will be used in the future.

As a result of such people's behavior, the design of a new system of archiving should consider exactly which materials a user might find useful, where they originate, and how long they might be of value.

In this paper, two authors show their studies. They show the result of the studies first and examined each case and each similarity and difference. At the beginning of reading, readers might think that finding file is simple and they can use a file finder. However, after reading the paper, the authors will make the reader to agree with their studies and thought. They also give the conclusion that how the new system should be aimed to serve users but it was a little bit vagueness.