When creating content for digital distribution, a plethora of tools are available to the writer(s) and producer(s). In this section, we will find an overview of the primary criteria for evaluating them.

For a simpler navigation, the three main dimensions can be arranged as a triangle:

Each criterion can be viewed as a continuum between two extreme points. While some cases allow for a black- and white answer, most other measures have an important middle ground. It is important to note that all factors have only a qualitative dimension and are thus hard to quantify.

Furthermore, each factor can be seen as a subset of the continuum between the general notions of control and chaos.

people	individual	observed	transactional	synchronous
	?	?	?	?
	group	self-paced	poetic	asynchronous

technology	process	centralized	integrated
	?	?	?
	artifact	distributed	loosely coupled

content	consume	perfect	private
	?	?	?
	collaborate	good enough	public

in short: social, autonomous, creative, timely

technology

• process – artifact: is the tool geared towards a specific way of working (sketch, review, comment, publish) or does it put the final product center stage? (ECM(S), BPM – Wordpress - DIGG)
• centralized – distributed: is the tool usable in various (physical) situations? (heavy copy machine in office corner or online-CRM with mobile access on laptop/mobile phone)
• integrated – loosely coupled: how well can this piece be integrated with others? how high is the switching cost, friction for the end user when performing a range of tasks? (one system to rule them all, having all solutions in one place or niche- and task-specific situational applications)

in short: bendable, movable, pluggable

content

• consume – collaborate: how much interactivity is necessary to be done? How involved are you? (iTunes – YouTube – Google Docs)
• perfect – good enough: how much effort is put into making the final result “stand out”? how is quality judged? (WIRED has lots of good examples: SLR vs. flip camera, Skype, etc. On a more controversial note: Apple product vs. others hardware and software)
• private – public: how much control is necessary for the final result, what implications arise from the type/size of our audience? (eMail leaks, groups/tribes/clans, crowd-inclusive online-learning like CCK 08)

in short: interactivity, polish, delivery

This section was meant as a broad overview of the metrics, soon a more detailed discussion of specific examples across all factors will follow.

Until then, please provide your comments on the applicability of these measures and share your examples of a product, service or person that was too chaotic, strict, formal, complex or boring for you to continue using.

Sollte mir eines Tages aus noch zu findenden Gründen die Zeit für das regelmäßige Bloggen zurückkommen, wirst Du es sicher erfahren.

Bis dahin frohes Schaffen auf digitalen und analogen Wegen.

Während ich auf bjoernklose.de über meine Arbeit und vielleicht auch ein bisschen Privates berichte, möchte ich mich auf helpplus.de anderen wichtigen Themen widmen.

Der Untertitel “Tips und Tricks für ein einfaches und effektives Leben” fasst es schon gut zusammen: in regelmäßigem Rahmen möchte ich mich hier verschiedenen Themen des Lebens und Alltags widmen. Natürlich geht es dabei um das Internet, und die vielen großartigen Möglichkeiten, die es uns bietet. Aber auch Bücher werden ihren Platz finden, interessante Personen werden vorgestellt, innovative Ideen präsentiert.

Warum das ganze? Ich lerne für mein Leben gern, aber möchte auch einen Teil davon weiter bzw. zurückgeben. Und hier ist die Plattform.

Also auf gehts.