Since the early days of computing, file systems have worked more or less the same way. “Folders” (note the metaphor) contain folders and files, and the system works in a (theoretically infinite) hierarchy.

This system is a functional analogy to filing cabinets. It also takes care of the need for hierarchical organization in a computational system. Is it a good compromise between the computer’s needs and the user’s? Yes. But that’s not the question we should be asking.

The question is this: is this system best for the user’s needs?

Let’s forget the computer’s needs for now. Let’s say that we virtualize a system of shortcuts that ties to the computer’s underlying, hierarchical structure. What will this system look like?

1. I like the idea of a calendar. Let’s say you have different files for different days.
Imagine a professor giving different lecturers a couple times a week . She teaches more than one course. She has a folder labeled “Art in America, Fall Semester” for one of courses, and this folder is set up as a calendar. Each day of class contains slides, homework assignments, rubrics, and her lecture notes. Her other courses have similar folders.

2. Stacks. OS X has played with this recently, but didn’t extend it throughout the operating system. Imagine that, within folders, you could organize similar files into stacks. That is, files that you would open together (such as a spreadsheet and a graph associated with the spreadsheet, or various mockups of a logo). The files would accordion outward without the user needing to navigate to a subfolder.

3. More abstractly, a social netowrk of files?

Imagine being able to ‘connect’ files together. Sort of like making them be friends. Files that are related to one another (such as files you’re likely to work on together) can be paired. Each files can be paired with numerous other files. Selecting the file would display a ring of the files it’s connected to. Hovering over a connected file shows the files that this file is connected to.

Firstly, the files itself act as the organizational system. This is quite zen. Secondly, the files are arranged contextually, not hierarchically. This is useful seeing as certain unrelated ideas may be distant in terms of categories. Thirdly, this allows your information to be arranged the same way you are arranged in social networks. If people can be social, why can’t our information be social, too?

I want your ideas. What are some other ways to visualize data?