Introduction to Constellations 2.6

Constellations is a database system designed to enable a community of researchers to catalog, describe, and meaningfully organize data they have collected and stored in digital format or data that is available on the World Wide Web. The underlying metaphor for Constellations is stars and constellations.

Constellations 2.6

In the database star entries refer to pieces of data. Constellation entries are meaningful groups of stars and other constellations.

Constellations is based on Learning Constellations, designed by Ricki Goldman-Segall as part of her Doctoral research at MIT. Learning Constellations was the first ethnographic research tool designed to analyze multimedia data. Specifically, it allowed Goldman-Segall (and other researchers) to describe and arrange clips of video stored on videodisk and textual notes stored on the computer. Constellations extends the functionality of Learning Constellations by allowing any group of researchers to analyze any kind of data which can be stored on a computer, as well as offering some new tools to describe and sort those pieces of data.

Constellations 2.6, a fully functioning stand-alone HyperCard prototype, is now available for free download. Still in development, it does allow a community of researchers to analyze and present a common set of data using a basic set of data tagging, sorting, arranging and presenting tools, based on the theoretical model presented in Goldman-Segall's paper "Configurational Validity: Patterns with No Fixed Centers".

We invite you to review the data sheet which outlines the program's functionality; and, if you wish, download and use Constellations 2.6, and do not hesitate to contact us if you should need any technical support.