Web sites are being widely deployed commercially; however, the factors that affect customer’s perceptions on the quality and acceptance of a Web site are unclear. Through a literature review, this article examines and integrates four sets of factors that capture e-commerce Website quality: system quality, information quality, service quality, and attractiveness. Based on TAM, a framework is developed relating Web site quality to customers ’ beliefs (perceived usefulness and ease of use), attitudes (preferences for the site), and intentions (to revisit the site). A set of instruments of Web site quality has been developed and empirically validated by factor analysis. Guidelines for Web interface design are proposed for Web designers and managers.

An evaluation of the Utrecht University website was carried out with 240 students. New criteria were drawn from the literature and operationalized for the study. These criteria are surveyability and findability. Web pages can be said to satisfy a usability criterion if their efficiency and effectiveness is satisfactory to the user. We operationalized efficiency and effectiveness as surveyability, that is, the users' satisfaction with the legibility and comprehensibility of the pages and findability, the users' ability to find information on the pages or the pages' ease of use, respectively. We conducted a case study in which subjects were observed while they performed a search task on the Internet and then answered questions about findability and surveyability. The surveyability and findability criteria seem to be an effective measure of the usability of web pages and give a reliable indication of the users' judgements of the pages' user-friendliness. 2 Evaluating the usability of we...

As information cascades across the Internet and human communication patterns are transposed

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Presenting a model for the

Web Design In this chapter, we review a model that serves as a framework for the design of web-based learning environments. The model consists of seven basic components: directionality, usability, consistency, interactivity, multi-modality, adaptability, and accountability. We propose that effective design begins with a clear delineation of the intended audience, usage context, and learning goals and that all further design occurs within the context of these factors (i.e., directionality). The design factors themselves can be seen as representing the fundamental contrasting goals of simplicity (usability and consistency) and complexity (interactivity, multi-modality, and adaptability). We propose that effective design consists of the proper balance of simplicity and complexity. We also introduce a method we refer to as “progressive complexity”, which is one potential method of achieving such a balance effectively, by offering the user a systematic set of options. Finally, design should include an evaluation component (accountability), which should in turn impact design modification via feedback. Evaluation, within this model, consists of learner variables, experimental methodology, outcomes, and measures. We review research that relates to the components of the framework, and also pose recommendations for development.

As more and more information, as well as everyday tasks, move to the Web, it is increasingly important to understand how users navigate and search in a Web environment. Whereas numerous approaches have focused on specific questions and methods to analyze selective aspects of this behavior, holistic approaches, taking multiple factors into account simultaneously, are still rare. The WEBNAS methodology presented here is a further step towards such a holistic understanding and analysis. Considering Web navigation and searching behavior as a succession of decision situations, it proposes a methodological toolkit for a quasi-experimental design consisting of modular elements that can be combined and adjusted in response to any specific research question. This toolkit contains the collection of data through a webcam recording of users ’ comments (think-aloud technique), gestures, postures, and facial expressions, a screen-cam recording of the computer’s interface, client-side logfiles, and online questionnaires, with respective suggestions for analysis. Finally, first applications of the toolkit are presented and possible future uses are discussed.

Like raising a child, completing my dissertation involved a community of people. Many people were part of this community of helpers and these people played various important roles as advisors, supporters, mentors, editors, family, and much more. These community members not only helped me complete the dissertation in an assortment of ways, but made the process more enjoyable, easier, and likely much quicker. First, I would like to thank my committee. Prof. Becky Rickly was not only my chair, but a mentor, advisor, and friend throughout. Her myriad comments pointed out ways that I could make my dissertation stronger and also helped me become a better writer and a better academic. Her faith in me and her support of me is priceless. Thank you. I’d also like to thank my two other committee members: Dr. Locke Carter and Prof. Sam Dragga. Dr. Carter provided advice, helpful comments, and knowledge in usability testing and hypertext theory (which was a starting point for this dissertation). Dr. Carter is also the force behind the usability testing lab. Without the lab he did so much work to get and put together, my research would have been much more difficult. Dr. Dragga asked thought provoking questions along the way and provided practical and helpful advice.

This study examines the interactive features of Internet based collaborative knowledge environments from a democratic media perspective. Structuralist and semiotic media analysis methods are applied to develop a model of interaction for the investigation of social and cultural perspectives on knowledge construction and learning with digital media. Questions for problematizing common sense interface constructions are proposed for critical participation and to inform democratic educational practice. Quotes Joe has tackled a truly significant topic in his dissertation, namely, a grammar of interactive digital media. The ideas and approaches presented embody a substantial humanistic as well as scientific orientation and a value stance that fosters democratic media education.

Paper accepted for publication by editor, B.R. Gaines Nowadays, much research examines both the cognitive difficulties encountered by web site users and the development of ergonomic guidelines for designers. However, few studies examine designers ’ cognitive functioning while designing web sites. We defend the idea that determining the difficulties web site designers encounter is necessary to better support their design activities, especially in making web sites easier to use. We present an experimental study that demonstrates that the designers ’ levels of expertise (novice and professional) as well as the design constraints that clients prescribe influences both the number and the nature of constraints designers articulate and respect in their web site designs. Based on our study findings, we suggest ways to better support web site designers.