Pathways & preferences

I think a very under-explored aspect of information presentation, especially on websites with dynamic content, is the reinforcement of pathways and preferences. I identified with Rama’s path example, especially with the ideas of pattern formation/learning and amplification. The junk filter in Apple’s mail program is so good that it makes me hopeful for adaptive news filters and intelligent presentation. Consider someone using a piece of software, not from scratch each time, but evolving patterns and growing with it. The software should have the capacity to learn.
John Simon Jr