The Bike Shed 459: Paper Data Structures with Sally Hall
Apr 15, 2025
Sally Hall, a Thoughtbot expert with a master's in information science, joins Joël to dive into the fascinating world of paper vs. digital data structures. They explore how historical systems like the Dewey Decimal System shaped our understanding of data organization. The conversation reveals the serendipitous joys of analog systems compared to the efficiency of digital searches. There's also a deep dive into biases inherent in classification, and an appreciation for classic tools like the Rolodex in data management. It's a fun and enlightening discussion on information access!
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Card Catalogs for Browsing
- Card catalogs offer multiple access points for each item, unlike one-to-one paper systems.
- This allows browsing and discovery, which are harder to replicate digitally.
Browsing vs. Searching
- Physical data structures allow for both searching and browsing simultaneously.
- Digital systems often force a choice between the two.
Encyclopedia Rabbit Holes
- Roy Wood Jr. described reading encyclopedias as a child, following cross-references between entries.
- This mirrors the modern experience of clicking Wikipedia links, illustrating a historical parallel.