The effects of link format and screen location on visual search of web pages

Navigation of web pages is of critical importance to the usability of web-based systems such as the World Wide Web and intranets. The primary means of navigation is through the use of hyperlinks. However, few studies have examined the impact of the presentation format of these links on visual search. The present study used a two-factor mixed measures design to investigate whether there was an effect of link format (plain text, underlined, bold, or bold and underlined) upon speed and accuracy of visual search and subjective measures in both the navigation and content areas of web pages. An effect of link format on speed of visual search for both hits and correct rejections was found. This effect was observed in the navigation and the content areas. Link format did not influence accuracy in either screen location. Participants showed highest preference for links that were in bold and underlined, regardless of screen area. These results are discussed in the context of visual search processes and design recommendations are given.     

Efficacy of a map on search, orientation and access behaviour in a hypermedia system

Many researchers have proposed hypertext and hypermedia as superior learning environments over traditional linear-based approaches. At the same time, reports of disorientation amongst students working in these environments has become a topic of major concern. The study reported in this paper sets out to investigate the efficacy of the provision of maps on students' ability to search, orientation and access information in a hypertext-based learning task. The domain used required students to learn about the theory of tectonic plates. The results indicate that the greater use of maps led to less relevant searching behaviour and less effective search effort. In conclusion, it is argued that the concept of the spatial metaphor has not served the designers and students of hypertext and hypermedia environments well. Further, it is proposed that designers of non-linear learning environments would be better served by concentrating on the fundamental usability of their systems rather than attempting to introduce navigational aids, which themselves are a symptom of poor design.     

Web服务的可用性测量

利用一种新的消息传递机制,从请求者的角度在服务请求者和服务提供者之间进行消息交互的同时进行Web服务可用性的测量,并提出了一套关于Web服务可用性的量化指标,为服务请求者的选择提供依据.     

类型化的Web服务组合形式化模型

Web服务组合的正确性包括动态行为的匹配性和数据类型的一致性.本文定义了一个扩充的Pi-演算类型系统,同时利用该系统对BPEL4WS Web服务组合规范建立了一个类型化的形式化模型,通过该模型能够对Web服务组合的正确性进行验证.最后通过一个案例,给出了对Web服务组合动态行为的匹配性和数据类型的一致性的验证方法.     

Navigation in desktop virtual environments: an evaluation and recommendations for supporting usability

Virtual reality (VR) can provide useful tools for a variety of applications. However, for these tools to be effective, they must be easy to use. In virtual environments (VEs), usability is impaired by poorly designed navigation systems. Insufficient realism and missing physiological orientation and motion cues impair spatial learning in desktop VEs. Capabilities for navigation in a VE are far more varied than in reality; so much greater flexibility can be offered, but designing VEs with too many options can overwhelm users. To assist designers in building effective, usable navigation systems for VEs, navigation techniques must be evaluated to identify which features actually support users in accomplishing their tasks and which features create unnecessary problems.This study evaluates navigation in two different VEs to develop recommendations for the design of navigation systems in desktop VEs. The study consists of an objective assessment of navigation control dynamics, a guideline-based evaluation and a review of data collected during two experimental studies. The findings indicate that real-world constraints, specialised navigation techniques and feedback regarding location and direction of travel are needed to support navigation in desktop VEs.     

The effects of the number of links and navigation support on cognitive load and learning with hypertext: The mediating role of reading order

Problems in learning with hypertext systems have been claimed to be caused by high levels of disorientation and cognitive load. This was recognized by DeStefano and LeFevre [DeStefano, D., & LeFevre, J. -A., (2007). Cognitive load in hypertext reading: A review. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(3), 1616–1641.] who predicted an increase of cognitive load and impairment of learning for hypertexts with a higher number of links per page. From a practical perspective, several navigation support techniques, such as providing link suggestions, have been proposed for guiding learners and reducing cognitive overload. In an experiment, we tested DeStefano and LeFevre’s predictions as well as the usefulness of link suggestions. Participants used different versions of a hypertext, either with 3-links or 8-links per page, presenting link suggestions or not. We tested their cognitive load and learning outcomes. Results showed that there was a benefit of using link suggestions for learning, but no effect of number of links on learning was found. Moreover, the effects of our manipulations on cognitive load were mediated by the reading order that participants selected. Implications for research and the design of navigation support systems are discussed.     

INSYDER: a content-based visual-information-seeking system for the Web

This paper presents INSYDER, a content-based visual-information-seeking system for the Web. The Web can be seen as one huge digital library offering a variety of very useful information for business analysts. INSYDER addresses these possibilities and offers powerful retrieval and visualisation functionalities. The main focus during the development was on the usability of the system. Therefore, a variety of well-established visualisation components were employed to support the user during the information-seeking process (e.g. visual query, result table, bar graph, segment view with tile bars, and scatterplot). Also, the retrieval aspects were developed with the goal of increasing the usability of the system (e.g. natural language search, content-based classification, relevance feedback). Extensive evaluations of the retrieval performance and the usability of the visualisation were conducted. The results of these evaluations offered many helpful insights into developing a new visual-information-seeking system called VisMeB.     

Effect of high-level content organizers on hypertext learning

This study investigates the cognitive abilities involved in hypertext learning and design approaches that can help users. We examined the effects of two types of high-level content organizers - a graphic spatial map and an alphabetical list - on readers’ memory for hypertext structure. In the control condition, a simple “home” page with no navigational aid was offered. Subjects were asked to read the hypertext with the purpose of learning the content, but in the post test phase they also had to recall the layout of nodes and links. Memory for links and page places varied as a function of condition. When a spatial map was available participants reconstructed more accurate formal structure then in the two other conditions. Participants’ memory about page places was the least accurate in the list condition. Results also indicate that participants use the content organizer when it is available in order to orientate during learning from hypertext documents.Our results prove that a content organizer showing the formal structure can facilitate the spatial mapping process. However, an organizer exposing a different structure than the real one would generate a conflict.     

大型网站的架构研究及解决方案

随着互联网业务的发展,网站规模越来越大,各种技术被提出以用于提升网站的性能、可用性、伸缩性、扩展性、安全性。在分析影响性能、可用性、伸缩性、扩展性和安全性等架构因素的基础上,提出了一套网站架构解决方案,并为图书馆集成发现系统的管理运维探索总结成功经验。     

Effect of hypertext highlighting on browsing,reading, and navigational performance

Reading hypertext documents is more difficult than reading traditional linear text. Text highlighting plays the role of encoding for reading comprehension and may play the roles of contextual cues and landmarks for hypertext navigation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of text highlight and organizing highlighted text into a hierarchical structure on browsing, reading, and navigation performance in a network hypertext system. A randomized experiment was conducted. Ninety participants were randomly assigned to three conditions: a reading system with text highlighting, with text highlighting and organizing highlighted text, and without any aids. Dependent variables included browsing performance: time spent and the length of navigational path for reading; reading performance: recall and inference scores, navigational performance: scores of landmark and route knowledge and time spent and the length of navigational path for completing nine navigational tasks. The results showed that text highlight did not improve reading and navigational performance. By contrast, organizing highlighted text yielded significantly worst performance in reading and navigation. According to the results, we propose several suggestions for the design of reading instruction and digital highlighters.     

一个Web抓取器的实现

本文介绍一个Web抓取器的实现。Web抓取器能够根据用户输入的URL和一定的约束条件自动地搜索Web上的超文本文档,建立了URL索引,根据该索引有选择的下载Web资源,同时保持了原有的链接关系,本文实现了一个种Web遍历过程,并根据遍历结果抓取文档,从而完成对指定URL抓取文本。     

Decentralized sliding mode control for flexible link robots

A technique using augmented sliding mode control for robust, real-time control of flexible multiple link robots is presented. For the purpose of controller design, the n-link, n-joint robot is subdivided into n single joint, single link subsystems. A sliding surface for each subsystem is specified so as to be globally, asymptotically stable. Each sliding surface contains rigid-body angular velocity, angular displacement and flexible body generalized velocities. The flexible body generalized accelerations are treated as disturbances during the controller design. This has the advantage of not requiring explicit equations for the flexible body motion. The result is n single input, single output controllers acting at the n joints of the robot, controlling rigid body angular displacement and providing damping for flexible body modes. Furthermore, the n controllers can be operated in parallel so that compute speed is independent of the number of links, affording real-time, robust, control.     

Rewriting-Based Navigation of Web Sites: Looking for Models and Logics

In this paper we outline the use of term rewriting techniques for modeling the dynamic behavior of Web sites. We associate rewrite rules to each Web page expressing the Web pages which are immediately reachable from this page. The obtained system permits the application of well-known results from the rewriting theory to analyse interesting properties of the Web site. In particular, we briefly discuss the use of some logics with strong connections with term rewriting as a basis for specifying and verifying dynamic properties of Web sites. We use Maude as a suitable specification language for such rewriting models which also permits to directly explore interesting dynamic properties of Web sites.     

无人机平台非对称广播链路的动态优先权调度算法

战场数据分发系统需要传输不同长度的信息和数据,数据容量相差很大,采用动态优先权调度算法在系统平均延时、长短信息传输的公平性两个方面可以同时达到很好的性能。该调度算法适合于有优先级控制的广播链路。     

Vertical versus dynamic menus on the world wide web: Eye tracking study measuring the influence of menu design and task complexity on user performance and subjective preference

Web sites need fast and effective navigation systems. An eye tracking laboratory study with n = 120 participants was conducted to compare the influence of different navigation designs (vertical versus dynamic menus) and task complexity (simple versus complex navigation tasks) on user performance, navigation strategy, and subjective preference. With vertical menus, users needed less eye fixations, were faster and more successful. We conclude that, firstly, vertical menus fit better to perception and cognition than dynamic menus, where the navigation items are hidden and must be accessed by an additional mouse click. Secondly, navigation systems should be extended with different kinds of navigation items adapted to the complexity of the users’ navigation tasks, because users tend to switch their navigation strategy when confronted with complex tasks.     

以Web用户关联关系为属性的浏览模式聚类

在Web使用挖掘中,用户浏览模式的聚类结果有助于网站设计者理解Web用户的浏览特点和需要。设计了一种有效的Web浏览模式的聚类方法,网页是否被浏览及网页上的浏览时间反映了用户的浏览兴趣,它们被刻画成等长的用户浏览模式向量中的相应分量,此外,浏览模式之间的关系被刻画并被作为属性加入到该向量中,形成扩展的用户浏览模式向量,对这些向量使用粗糙k-均值法可对用户浏览模式进行有效的聚类。实例和实验分析说明,使用该方法的聚类结果更合理。聚类结果可用于个性化网站的设计。     

The effect of visual design and placement of intra-article navigation schemes on reading comprehension and website user perceptions

Multipage articles on websites require intra-article navigation schemes and, when well designed, such navigational schemes signal the topical structure of the article’s contents. This study examines the effect of the visual design and placement of intra-article navigation schemes on website users’ reading comprehension and user experience. Using an informational medical website, four treatments of an intra-article navigation scheme were varied in their level of visual distinctness from the site’s other navigation devices and in their placement in the web page. Significant differences were found for reading comprehension and perceived knowledge gained. Reading comprehension was highest with an intra-article navigation scheme that was most visually distinct as an article table of contents and that replaced the site’s navigation on the web page layout. Paradoxically, participants’ perceptions of the amount of knowledge they gained were rated lowest for this condition. Suggestions for navigation design are presented.     

Goal-driven requirements analysis for hypermedia-intensive Web applications

Requirements analysis for Web applications still needs to employ effective RE practices to accommodate some distinctive aspects: capturing high-level communication goals, considering several user profiles, defining hypermedia-specific requirements, bridging the gap between requirements and Web design, and reusing requirements for an effective usability evaluation. Techniques should be usable, informal, require little training effort, and show relative advantage to project managers. On the basis of the i * framework, this paper presents a proposal for defining hypermedia requirements (concerning aspects such as content, interaction, navigation, and presentation) for Web applications. The model adopts a goal-driven approach coupled with scenario-based techniques, introduces a hypermedia requirement taxonomy to facilitate Web conceptual design, and paves the way for systematic usability evaluation. Particular attention is paid to the empirical validation of the model based on the perceived quality attributes theory. A case study developed with industrial partners is discussed.