Group:
philosophy
Topic:
hierarchical structures
Topic:
problem of classifying information
Topic:
problems with type inheritance
Topic:
limitations of formalism
Topic:
loosely structured data
Topic:
non-hierarchical classification and multiple classification
Topic:
top-down vs. bottom-up design
Topic:
using annotations in hypertext
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Summary
Hierarchy is widely proposed for handling complexity. It is effective in many areas, but it is not a universal solution. The main problem is that much of the world is not hierarchical. So any attempt to it make so becomes artificial. In some cases, e.g., SUIT, adding a hierarchy can actually complicate a system instead of simplifying it.
An alternative is local hierarchies. Locally a group of things are structured hierarchically, but the same structure does not extend globally. In a sense one has a huge set of small hierarchies. This is like a dictionary where each entry has a hierarchical structure but the dictionary as a whole does not. (cbb 4/94)
Subtopic: hierarchy does not work 
| Quote: can not subdivide universe of problems into fixed areas, each with its own special notation [»holtAW5_1958]
| | Quote: hierarchical structure is wrong if it doesn't fit the ideas [»nelsTH12_1986]
| | Quote: all structures and hierarchies are totally arbitrary [»nelsTH_1974]
| | Quote: the correct answer to "Is the visual image of this tree composite?" is "That depends on the meaning of 'composite'"; i.e., reject the question [»wittL_1958a]
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Subtopic: limits of filing
| Quote: hierarchical filing doesn't work since the mind uses associations [»bushV7_1945]
| | Quote: a file system provides only single-inheritance, but want files in multiple places that change over time and may depend on task [»dourP6_1999]
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Subtopic: learning vs systematic instruction
| Quote: systematic instructional design decomposes target skills; but people do not follow the instructions since too busy learning [»carrJM_1990]
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Subtopic: user interface
| Quote: geometrically hierarchical widgets in SUIT doubled its complexity while providing a slight benefit [»pausR10_1992]
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Subtopic: top-down vs. decision making
| Quote: top-down programming is goal oriented but final decisions not made until the end [»knutDE2_1984]
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Subtopic: hierarchical better than flat
Quote: a hierarchical namespace provides containers for protecting objects; mandatory and discretionary protection by endowing subdirectories with trust; better than flat namespace
[»kampPH7_2004]
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Related Topics
Group: philosophy (60 topics, 2323 quotes)
Topic: hierarchical structures (46 items)
Topic: problem of classifying information (42 items)
Topic: problems with type inheritance (20 items)
Topic: limitations of formalism (93 items)
Topic: loosely structured data (20 items)
Topic: non-hierarchical classification and multiple classification (16 items)
Topic: top-down vs. bottom-up design (30 items)
Topic: using annotations in hypertext
(13 items)
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