Global information access

Kybernetes

ISSN: 0368-492X

Article publication date: 1 March 1999

468

Keywords

Citation

Rudall, B.H. (1999), "Global information access", Kybernetes, Vol. 28 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.1999.06728baa.004

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited


Global information access

Keywords Automation, Cybernetics, Research and development

Abstract Presents reports and surveys of selected current research and development in systems and cybernetics. They include: Cybernetics studies in Romania; Management cybernetics; Nanofabrication; Global information access; Web publishing revolution?; Innovations in systems and cybernetics.

Global information access

Interaction devices

Researchers at the Middlesex University's School of Computing Science (UK) are developing new design principles and tools to facilitate interactions with Web sites from devices with small screens. This is a project that is being carried out in collaboration with Reuters, the global information and news group.

Project aims

The participants of the project say that:

... Users of handheld devices with small screens are increasingly seeking access to Web sites designed for conventional "large" desktop screens. Yet little systematic research evidence is available on the usability of Web interaction through smaller displays.

The first phase of the project

The first phase of the project in the new endeavour at the University's Interactive Design Centre (IDC) and at Reuters has focused on obtaining empirical information on interactive task performance with smaller screens. In this initial study it was found that the users of small screens were currently 50 per cent less effective in retrieving information from the Web than users of devices with large screens. The project's leading investigator, Dr Matt Jones explained that:

Findings like this are helping us to identify design guidelines for small screens. For example, small-screen users seem to prefer interfaces with search elements and focused navigation paths that get directly to the information required, such as the financial performance of a particular company.

Design guidelines

The resulting design guidelines will be embedded in a tool for extracting information from Web sites to adapt them automatically for small screens. It is reported that a pilot tool for this work will be available this year.

The IDC researchers have the advantage of access to Reuters commercial Web services such as Off-Trading Floor products incorporating financial data. Reuters research manager, Richard Willis, regards the use of handheld Internet-enabled devices, we are told, as the latest step in the company's history of pioneering novel ways of delivering information content to customers. He says that:

With a global reach of over 100 million subscribers for digital mobile communications, our ability to provide effective Web interaction through small screens opens vital market opportunities.

The work with Middlesex has already given us vital feedback on usability and navigability for this demanding new delivery medium. We also expect to gain insights into the design and delivery of future systems. And our general discussions with the researchers have been extremely rewarding in promoting the cross-fertilisation of knowledge.

This project builds on other IDC initiatives such as:

  • distributed Web authoring ­ tool development (Professor Harold Thimbleby)

  • hypertext navigation (Dr Yin Leng).

Related articles