Image Gallery for BT Archives

Project Summary

Shopping Garden began in 2000/2001 as an idea for improving online shopping, and led to an image browsing tool initially used for BT's own historical image archive which is described here. Eventually it found its way on to the Tate Gallery website as a way of browsing their online collection (http://www.tate.org.uk/collection/carousel).

BT has a large collection of photographs and other images covering 200 years of telecommunications history. We are keen to make this collection available and accessible for the public online, and we want that access to be as effective as possible. However, searching for the right image in a catalogue is notoriously difficult because it usually requires the user to enter a text query or select a category. Many users do not know how to describe what they are looking for in a way that corresponds to the way the catalogue has been organised. We have brought together technology and innovation from the Pervasive ICT research Centre, expertise from the BT Archives team and BT's own 'click&buy' payment method. The result is a website that allows the public to search the image gallery without the need to enter text. Images can be selected, ordered in a variety of formats, and paid for online. Try it for yourself in the image gallery at http://www.bt.com/archives As well as being a great way of improving access to a valuable corporate resource, this works points the way to BT's increasingly 'net-centric' interactions with the public. With interfaces that adapt to users, you no longer have to be a geek to get the most out of the wealth of online content.