Reification (to reify)
by Mads SoegaardTo reify (or reification) is used in a variety of meanings. According the WordNet 1.7 dictionary, reification means "regarding something abstract as a material thing". In the fields of HCI and interaction design the term is however most often used as "making something material from something abstract." In other words "thingifying" something abstract (like an idea, a work practice, a social relationshiop) or at least making a representation of it.
References (bibliography)
Wordnet (version 1.7.1): A lexical database for the English language. Princeton University. [Accessible online]
Changes to this page
28 Apr 2006:
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