Associative Navigation

The two common methods that allow access to content are direct access (through Search) and menu-based/hierarchical access (through the Navigate Menu). This has been discussed extensively, including in the knowledge management newspaper 2know (see March 2002 issue).

A third, complementary approach is the associative navigation method. This approach is a development of the classic hyperlink concept, where its purpose is to enable lateral access (as opposed to hierarchical access), both within the site/application and outside of it, in an organized and effective manner.

When we propose associative navigation, our goal is to enable intelligent linking. Not "wandering," not "surfing," but lateral linking, without losing orientation. The website attached below is an example of integrating associative navigation. The top and upper-right menus are hierarchical; the lower-right menu allows direct access, while the middle-right "Related topics" section represents the associative navigation.

And a small tip: using associative navigation requires preliminary thought. There must be consistency in what types of questions can be answered through it; there must be a strong connection between the page and the area being navigated to; and we must ensure that this is indeed navigation and not wandering...

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Want to learn more about user experience?

Here are some articles you might find interesting:

• Super User

• Main Topic

• Demo - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words