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)

Investigates engineers' information-seeking practices based on case studies in two organizations. Results show engineers search for documents to find people, search for people to get documents, and interact socially to get information without engaging in explicit searches. Discusses the design task and how computer systems could support searches…

Describes the architecture of an anthropocentric Biomedical Information Management System prototype that is based on a network of computational components, or agents, that expert biomedical users can define, use, and refine to serve their own communication and documentation habits and needs. The innovation of the proposal, the Participatory Design…

Using her own Web site as an example, the author discusses issues and tasks associated with creating and maintaining a professional Web site, within the context of a strategic planning approach. The stages of the process are outlined, including identification of user needs; selection and evaluation of information; organization of information;…

Reviews published findings from empirical studies of hypermedia learning and cognitive styles and classifies them into five themes: nonlinear learning, learner control, navigation in hyperspace, matching and mismatching, and learning effectiveness. Presents a learning model and discusses implications for the design of hypermedia learning systems.…

The Google search engine is growing in popularity and usually shines in performance ratings. This article summarizes findings from a technical paper written by Google's developers in 1998 before anyone had seen Google. Suggests that a careful reader of the paper will be rewarded with a deeper appreciation of the designers' ideas and…

Examines the interlibrary loan process used by libraries in Singapore and proposes that the existing paper-based manual system be replaced by a Web-based system. Presents an example of such a system that has been successfully designed and implemented at the Nanyang Technological University. (Author/LRW)

Examines automated self-service checkout and return systems in libraries in the United Kingdom based on the literature and on research conducted by Loughborough University. Describes the main systems available and discusses objectives, costs, security, location of equipment, functionality and system design, and effects on users and staff.…

Discusses business use of the Web and related search engine design issues as well as research on general and academic links before reporting on a survey of the links published by a collection of business Web sites. Results indicate around 66% of Web sites do carry external links, most of which are targeted at a specific purpose, but about 17%…

This study consists of two experiments. Pitch, volume, and tempo in auditory-haptic geographic information systems were compared in terms of effectiveness for multimodal interface; volume was determined to be better. Auditory display with volume and haptic display with vibration were compared and the results showed that, in more complex geographic…

Explores how the 6-D framework can form the core of a comprehensive systemic strategy and help provide a supporting structure for more robust design and development while allowing organizations to support whatever methods and models best suit their purpose. 6-D stands for the phases of Web design and development: Discovery, Definition, Design,…

This article discusses PC reliability, one of the most pressing issues regarding computers. Nearly a quarter century after the introduction of the first IBM PC and the outset of the personal computer revolution, PCs have largely become commodities, with little differentiating one brand from another in terms of capability and performance. Most of…

In a 2003 article for "College and University," Poock and Lefond analyzed the characteristics of effective graduate school Web sites by focusing on prospective students, the information they sought, the elements that either enhanced or inhibited Web navigation and appearance, and the impact of the amount of time it took to locate information on…

When Annie Stunden came to the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) in 1999 as CIO, she had a vision of providing all students, faculty, and staff their own Web sites where they could store and share documents and files, a place where they could easily and intuitively collaborate with each other. Before joining UW-Madison, Stunden had been…

Significant economies can be achieved in distributed learning systems architected with a focus on interoperability and reuse. The key building blocks of an efficient distributed learning architecture are the use of standards and XML technologies. The goal of plug and play capability among various components of a distributed learning system…