Database Reference
In-Depth Information
12.6 Design Principles for YCD's
Following the discussion of the problems and issues that exist in the domain of
youth well-being community-built databases and web spaces, we can now consider
the requisite conceptual and design requirements.
12.6.1 Conceptual Requirements
This field of research is dominated by three distinct areas of research - Youth, Youth
Development and Information Systems. Therefore, it is difficult to locate models
and frameworks that will enable the design and implementation of a community-
built database and web space for youth well-being. There are numerous frameworks
for designing and implementing web spaces for organisations [
1
,
40
,
62
], frame-
works for explaining the transition of youth from childhood to adulthood, as well as
frameworks and models that explain to some degree what young people are involved
with online (e.g., [
8
,
31
,
84
]. However, in order to design and implement a commu-
nity-built database and web space for youth well-being, we need to bring these
diverse perspectives together to create a robust framework and model for this
specific area of research.
The three modalities of information, collaboration and community can addition-
ally be analysed in terms of their content, quality of information and interactivity.
Content, quality of information and interactivity all play a vital role in the design
of a web space for youth (Fig.
12.2
). In terms of what content should be covered
by web spaces for youth, it is perhaps useful to first consider the issues which
youth consider as the most important to them. Recent surveys conducted by Harris
Interactive [
56
] and United Nations Youth Association of Australia [
85
]found
that young people wanted to discover information and contribute information
on topics that were central to their lives and about which they felt strongly [
56
]
(Fig.
12.3
).
The quality of the web space for youth is strongly influenced by the quality of the
content of information within in it as well as the quality of the information
presented within in it. That is, there is a phenomenal amount of content available
for the consumption of youth regarding a variety of issues and concerns that may be
of interest to them. However, in order to ensure a better quality of information
available to the youth, two steps could be taken. The first is some form of intelli-
gence density, defined as measuring how quickly can you get the essence of the
underlying data from the input' [
25
]. Intelligence density allows the user to filter
data to satisfy their particular interest and also to present the data in levels of
abstraction given the depth they want to focus on. Intelligence density in this form
can be enhanced immensely by the voice of youth. In another way, the more emphasis
there is on listening to the voice of children and youth, the more the quality of the
information provided regarding youth advocacy and policies will improve. As an
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