Generous and inviting interfaces revisited

Abstract

For some decades, institutions such as galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (often abbreviated as GLAM institutions) have digitized numerous archival documents and made at least parts of these documents publicly available online. However, there is still a shortage of user-friendly and easily accessible interfaces for various user groups, especially regarding collections based on text sources. After a brief introduction to the research area and the project, this paper discusses a visualization and design study based on a selection of digitized archival material from the Ernst von Glasersfeld estate. We present a conceptual outline of this work and examples concerning discourse mapping, the analysis of argumentative structures as well as some didactical approaches. In so doing, conceptual backgrounds, educational material and design principles are outlined. The paper concludes with critical considerations as regards the limitations of the approaches discussed.