Infosphere: one artefact, two metaphors, three sort criteria

Because investigations about sites or artefacts require collecting and sorting out distributed and heterogeneous pieces of information, the handling of these pieces of information has, with the development of information technologies, opened a number of research issues. We focus here on the interfacing of collections through visual means. We introduce Infosphere, an experimental disposal aimed at sorting out and visualising the information behind heritage artefacts or sites. Infosphere combines a 3D metaphoric model of the artefact under scrutiny, a geovisualisation metaphor (parallels/meridians of a globe), with parallels, meridians and diameter of the globe corresponding to sort criteria (discrete elements of the artefact's morphology, documents, time). The disposal is evaluated on the “signal light tower” in Marseilles, a XVIIth century edifice barring the entrance to the city's port.