Usability of digital libraries: a study based on the areas of information Science and Human-Computer Interaction

Ferreira, Sueli Mara and Pithan, Denise Nunes Usability of digital libraries: a study based on the areas of information Science and Human-Computer Interaction., 2005 . In World Library and Information Congress: 71st IFLA General Conference and Council, Oslo (Norway), August 14th-18th 2005. [Conference paper]

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English abstract

The conception, planning and implementation of digital libraries, in any area of knowledge, demand innumerable studies in order to verify and guarantee their adequacy to the users’ necessities. Such studies find methodological, conceptual and theoretical support in some areas of knowledge, such as Human-Computer-Interaction (HCI) (Usability Studies, in particular) and Information Science (IS) (especially studies about users’ necessities and behavior in information search and use). This research, therefore, intends to integrate concepts and techniques from these two areas, that is, it analyzes the usability of the InfoHab digital library, having as theoretical base the Constructivist model of user study proposed by Carol Kuhlthau and the criteria of usability established by Jacob Nielsen. In order to do so, a qualitative study with six users with different levels of academic formation and experience in the use of recovery systems was developed. Data was collected through personal interviews, prototype of the library, direct observation, image and sound records. The variables of this study included the following criteria: learnability, efficiency and effectiveness of the digital library, management of errors, memorability and the user’s satisfaction from the perspective of cognitive and affective aspects and the actions taken by the users during the information search process. The aspects identified in the collected data are discussed and the results are evidence of the possible synergy between the HCI and IS fields. So we expect to contribute conceptually for a discussion about a model of usability study that can be more inclusive and incorporate the aspects pointed by the Constructivist model.

Portuguese abstract

Usabilidade de bibliotecas digitais: um estudo baseado nas áreas de ciência da informação interação homem-computador.

Item type: Conference paper
Keywords: Usabilidade, Bibliotecas Digitais, Interface de Interação, Interação Humano-Computador, IHC, Design Centrado no Usuário, Estudo de Usuário, Estudo de Uso. Usability, Digital Libraries, User Interfaces, Human-Computer Interaction, CHI, User-Centered Design, User Studies
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BI. User interfaces, usability.
Depositing user: Denise Pithan
Date deposited: 10 Oct 2007
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:09
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/10482

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