A while ago I wrote about how we needed to design around the network, rather than around individual applications. The BBC is heading that way. They want to support a share, find and play mode of working, where users assemble BBC materials on-demand and have a space for sharing their own contributions.
On find and findability:
On-demand means content has to have proper labelling (metadata) or it will be hard to find and of no long term value to audiences. Better search tools, branding and navigation are essential, as are clear portals for big content areas like Sport, Music, Natural History, Leisure and Health. [BBC – Press Office – Creative Future]
On share:
Mr Highfield said the share concept would allow users to “create your own space and to build bbc.co.uk around you”, encouraging them to launch ther own blogs and post home videos on the site. [MediaGuardian.co.uk | Media | BBC unveils radical revamp of website]
On play:
“BBC iPlayer is going to offer catch-up television up to seven days after transmission,” said Mr Highfield. “At any time you will be able to download any programme from the eight BBC channels and watch it on your PC and, we hope, move it across to your TV set or down to your mobile phone to watch it when you want.” [MediaGuardian.co.uk | Media | BBC unveils radical revamp of website]
They have just unveiled an experimental prototype of their Programme Catalogue, which allows you to search a resource of over a million TV and Radio programmes. This gives you catalogue data: there is no link to the programmes themselves, and it is not complete. Nevertheless, given the role that the BBC has played in British intellectual, political and cultural life it is a marvellous record. See for example the results for:
They make their legacy data work hard. For example, they provide subject category clouds. Here is the subject cloud for Enoch Powell.
They also mention who ‘often appears with’ a name; for example, the following appear with Samuel Beckett: Jack Macgowran, Donald Mcwhinnie, Martin Esslin, Billie Whitelaw, Patrick Magee.
