I think Seth has touched on a difficult one, in “Alphabetical order is obsolete“.
He has a point, sometimes people are lazy when they design things – they go for the “we’ve always done” way. Thus, we pretty much stick to alphabeticalising everything when there are sometimes much better ways of presenting; and more importantly – navigating our way through the world.
My opinion is a slight change to Seth’s point, people should have different views, different angles for which to look at data. Sometimes the alphabet isn’t so bad.
When you look in a dictionary, it sure comes in handy.
Sure, I know what Seth might say, “just group them by meaning” AKA thesaurus; if you want to get a spelling that’s fine. But, if I hear a new word, and I can’t spell it – all I know is that it starts with a sound a little like “ahh”.
The alphabet is limited, I know, but only in so much as looking at data from one (and only ever one) angle. If you only use one viewpoint, you’re limited no matter what the point of view is.
The key point here is to look at things from a different prospective – not just in new world way – but with regards to your lists and lists of data that you scrawl through. What we need here, is options.
Also from my point of view, as someone with dyslexia – when I look through my phone for a name – I sometimes forget what I was calling for, and who I was calling. Strange, and confusing, I know – but it happens often enough for me to have to develop a coping mechanism.
All I have in my head is a sound that I look for (that’s right, alphabetically) in my phonebook. When I find the name, the subject and therefore reason for me picking up the phone becomes apparent.
Sometimes I navigate through my phone via kinesis, meaning I know how it feels; to call my girlfriend for example.
Other times, I use the ‘last called option’ – as I usually only call the same few people.
It’s all about making sure to: Every So Often Ask Why, as John points out.
So, you see – I don’t think we should scrap the whole alphabet – or even try and reduce its importance. Just help it make some well deserved friendships with other organisational points of view.
