Introducing the Series Producers - FreePint Topic Series "Making Information Visible"
Jinfo Blog

By Robin Neidorf

Abstract

Robin Neidorf interviews the co-producers of the new FreePint Topic Series "Making Information Visible", Martin White and James Mullan, to find out about their experiences and expertise across the field of information discovery, and asks them what they think the series will bring to the FreePint audience.

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As the FreePint Topic Series "Making Information Visible" launched this month, we asked the co-producers of the series how the articles, viewpoints and reviews will bring information managers insight into how to make information more visible and "discoverable" to users. 

FreePint: What's your background?

Martin White: It was not until I read Chemistry at Southampton University that I realised the scale of information associated with just one branch of the natural sciences. Managing information seemed to have more of a future than working in a lab so from 1970 onwards I have always seen myself as an information scientist.

I try to bring a scientific rigour to the management of information, which requires a combination of computer science, linguistics, psychology, management science, ethnography, and decision theory. Above all it is about understanding why someone needs information and only then delivering it in a way that helps them make an informed decision on behalf of themselves and/or their organisation. 

James Mullan: I've worked on a number of projects and tools that have looked at how organisations can make information more accessible without overloading people with too much data or knowledge. During my time managing these tools I've learnt that you should never underestimate the value users get from a specific tool, especially in relation to search and information discovery.

FreePint: What will the series bring to readers?

Martin White: The FreePint Topic Series "Making Information Visible" will try to show FreePint's subscribers that there are some common principles in delivering external and internal information to people who have to undertake tasks and make decisions. I've used the term "people" deliberately as words such as "user" and "subscriber" may tend to de-personalise the effective management of information.

We need to remember that two people with apparently common experience and common requirements may place very different relevance values on the same piece of information. The central principle is that information has a lifecycle and any failure in the course of that lifecycle means that the full potential of the investment in information is not realised. 

James Mullan: Information discovery is a term that is often used by individuals within many different organisations, however the term is often misunderstood as it can incorporate a number of different concepts and ideas including search tools and eDiscovery tools.

In the FreePint Topic Series "Making Information Visible", readers will achieve greater clarity through a series of blog posts, articles, webinars and Q&As with suppliers at the leading edge of information discovery.

The FreePint Topic Series "Making Information Visible" runs from January-March 2015.

Register your interest now, and you'll get a free PDF report "Delving into Information Discovery" upon registration and a further report with selected premium articles when it's published in March.

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