Lost in Translation: IA Challenges in Distributing Digital Audio

With each new advancement in digital media come new ways to consume and distribute it, and new and different challenges for information architecture. For example, several new devices on the market are designed to distribute digital audio from a computer to audio systems in other rooms of the house. These devices connect to your home network through a standard Ethernet cable or wi-fi, routing music from your computer to your stereo using standard audio connections.

The main challenge facing these devices is how to provide remote access to the music library. While sitting at a computer, you have the benefit of using a keyboard, mouse and screen to interact with software like iTunes or WinAmp. Since network audio devices need to sit on the shelf with your stereo, they do not have a full display, and the only means of interaction is a remote control. In other words, this looks like a job for an information architect!

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