Browsing faceted classification? A childs game!
This is fucking brilliant. Thanks to Ian Bruk for the pointer. The International Children's Digital Library (ICDL) is a 5-year research project to develop innovative software and a collection of books that specifically address the needs of children as readers. The interface uses a Faceted Classification combined with a Zoomable Interface (looks like it uses the same engine as Photomesa), and you know what: it works. For kids! I am in awe.
You can try it out (it is a Java app) right here: you'll need Java installed on your machine (it's probably there). What I want now is for them to import XFML. Imagine the possibilities.
They have a video (link to download page - video is 24Megs) about the making of ICDL. A must see if you have the bandwidth - it's really good: "I actually like the French one, because if it was in French and English it could teach you some words in French." - "Sometimes I read the book over again - sometimes I figure: this has to be a happy or a sad book". What a great team! Participatory design example: (member of the kids team) "Bug Bug, I found a Bug!".