Outline Introduction The tape cassette study Problems with

Outline Introduction The tape cassette study Problems with digital music libraries Results of analysis Design Implications Conclusions

Introduction Research question: What can we learn from the storage of analogue media that can be applied to the design of digital music libraries?

Introduction Itunes, Winamp, Windows Media Player

Problems Proposed framework Organizing: issues around browsing a collection Personalizing: Issues around customizing items in a collection and sharing them Digitization: Issues around the loss of physical affordances and documentation

Organizing Tapes could be browsed Emphasizes search and sort

Personalizing Mix tapes represent relationships and events Could be shared

Digitizing Personal & musical histories are recorded by old media “this is a tape from 1998 or so from jenna, an old penpal. i still miss her. the other tapes are ones i made or sssb made. ”

Analysis of organization Ratings not used (75%) 30% report not organizing their collection “lisa ici says: Heh, that could be my tape collection. ” “aoneko says: Hee! I have a crate like this too. Lot of the same tapes in there. ”

Analysis of personalization 75% had more than one mixtape in their collection 80% reported making a mix at least within the past year. “The personal feelings sewn into those drives is something that measures far above the cold, distanced feeling I get from sitting around someone's computer listening to shuffled music. ”

Analysis of digitization Tapes kept for , sentiment, Nostalgia AND fear of loss The music was still listened to by many “so i was cleaning (trying to) my room earlier. hehe and i opened 1 of my cassette drawers. . hehe instant flashback. i havent listened to them for ages. maybe last time was when i was in college? cassette was the way to go. . . ” - pale spectre

Conclusions Tapes were more useful Much more research to be done Music libraries can be improved

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