Faceting

From MobileDesign

Faceting -- or filtering -- is a set of methods of exploring non-taxonimological (non-heirarchical) information sets by selecting or narrowing among individual aspects (facets) of information in the available vocabulary.

Filtering can be well-employed on lists of results within small screens. The methods of viewing only a smaller subset of the available choices in the Alphabetic Listings (Short) and Alphabetic Listings (Long) patterns are versions of this methodology. Text search is a very simple faceting method.

Beyond text search, arbitrary search input is usually very difficult even on large screens and with good input mechanisms. Categories of items, whether color, types of articles, sizes, shapes, price range, etc. Links or simple forms should be used on mobile devices. In some cases (depending on the suitability by device), other sorts of selectors, like tabs, may be a way to differentiate the multiple selector mechanisms.

The graphic selectors (such as sliders for price) often encountered on wired websites will, of course, not work on most mobile devices.

[edit] Pre-faceting

If your design accounts for breaking up the provided information into ordered and labeled sets (and sub-sets) this is a pre-faceted design.

The structure of the organization must be made clear by clearly labeling any groupings or applied filters.

[edit] Post-faceting

Allowing users to add, remove or change their own filters is post-faceting. Though the results will use the pre-faceting pattern, user controls must be provided to apply or change the filters.

Faceting can be accomplished in any number of graphical or infographical senses. For small screens, use simple, easy to input methods such as links and text boxes. Note that while text entry is clearly allowing user input, providing a series of choices (perhaps from the existing data set)

Note also that pre-faceted results can be provided, then modified. A post-faceting pattern does not require a lack of applied filtering when the screen or page is loaded.

[edit] Notes about faceting patterns to flesh out more later on

• By text
• By dynamic selection? Not sure.
• NOT by graphical senses, usually. Tag-clouds, hyper-trees.
• But, some graphics can be used (diamond search)

Some about searching, and search results ordering.

Mention labeling the current facet(s). And how to get out of them to search/view higher.

An example that could easily be mobilized: http://flamenco.berkeley.edu/

[edit] Sorting

Sorting and filtering are often confused, but are very different. Changing the sorting of a set leaves all items within the set, but simply changes the priority. A common GUI pattern within the desktop is to click on the column header to give sort priority to that field.

This is rarely applicable to any small-screen device, so should usually be avoided.