The problem of human-computer interface design was brought to the foreground with the emergence of the personal computer, the increasing complexity of electronic systems, and the need to accommodate the human operator in these systems. With each new technological generation discovering the interface design problems of its own technologies, initial…

Describes the development of Usenet, the User's Network, a computer network that distributes group discussions (newsgroups) on different topics. Network News software is described, the rapid growth in popularity and heavy network traffic is discussed, and a hierarchical classification scheme to limit the amount of information for users is…

Presents issues raised in designing a software interface as a teaching aid for a preschool user group. Addresses issues such as message variance caused by disappearance of information when media access varied by user, and finding commonalities across a user base. (PA)

Describes a collaborative, reuse hypertext system, called MUCH (Many Using and Creating Hypertext). The novel browsing and retrieval characteristics of the system are based on a semantic net connecting documents, thesauri, and discussions. Word patterns are documented for reuse, creating and reorganizing network traversal according to user…

Illustrates how hypertext and multimedia can be applied in museums to facilitate humanities research. A model of a museum professional's information needs is presented, the Open System Environment (OSE) is explained as a conceptual framework for user requirements, and the COIN (Catalogued Objects and Information for Numismatists) hypertext system…

The concepts of usability and user-centered design (UCD) have grown in popularity over the past 20 years as measured by the number of research and mainstream articles devoted to their discussion. As with all new developments, however, there are always the questions of how things work in practice compared to theory. A survey of 83 software…

Defines and delineates hypermedia by examining its relation to the user as a system, an interface, and an environment. Classes of computer systems are described; classes of hypermedia systems are explained; user work components are discussed, including tasks, information, and the environment; and emerging standards and future developments are…

This report presents a model combining the emerging technologies of hypertext and expert systems. Hypertext is relatively unexplored but promises an innovative approach to information retrieval. In contrast, expert systems have been used experimentally in many different application areas ranging from medical diagnosis to oil exploration. The…

Describes a method of organizing the hypertext software files in a database containing legal information on housing discrimination to prevent the user from becoming disoriented in the system. The expert system of which the database is a part is explained, and the disorientation problem is discussed. (six references) (LRW)

Explains how a user-centered approach to system design addressed the representational and strategic issues that arose when developing an artificial intelligence-based system, the Science Education Advisor, a case-based hypertext browsing system designed to collect and dispense ideas and advice for teaching elementary school science. (39…

Describes the design of a customized online service at the Lister Hill Library (Alabama) that used a dial-in modem system to provide remote access to medical research materials. Problems with hardware and software incompatibility are discussed, user training is described, and the successful results are reviewed. (LRW)

Presents a conceptual framework for building an intelligent documentation system (IDS) for computer software by integrating hypermedia and expert systems technologies. The need for online computer documentation for end-users is discussed, and elements of the synergetic model are described, including knowledge representation, the hypermedia…

Discusses client-server architecture in dumb terminals, personal computers, local area networks, and graphical user interfaces. Focuses on functions offered by client personal computers: individualized environments; flexibility in running operating systems; advanced operating system features; multiuser environments; and centralized data…

Discussion of factors to consider in purchasing a personal computer covers present and future needs, computing environments, memory, processing performance, disk size, and display quality. Issues such as bundled systems, where and when to purchase, and vendor support are addressed; and an annotated bibliography of 28 recent articles is included.…

Various methods for retrieving chemical structure information on the World Wide Web are discussed. Although graphical plug-in programs provide more search capabilities, users first have to obtain a copy of the programs. Tripos's WebSketch and ACD Interactive Lab adopt a different approach; using JAVA applets, users create and display a structure…