This study evaluates the usability of the proposed MOA (mouse-over-abstract) interfaces that could be implemented in Web-based or stand-alone applications. The MOA designs provide users with an abstract that serves as context cues about the information presented in the linked page. The context cues are available in visual and/or audio formats.…

Education delivery systems have evolved from content delivery mechanisms to collaborative environments. The next step in this evolution is to provide greater support for asynchronous learners, those that progress through course material with little or no support from the instructional team. The integration of Web technologies with artificial…

Describes the ViewFinder interface, designed at Indiana University as a client to a database server; it supports querying based on both visual and verbal clues. Presents results of usability analysis performed on ViewFinder with 18 users. High search success rates were achieved through both types of querying means; verbal clues were used more than…

Explores the systemological approach of dialogism as a new way of couching the problem of person-machine dialog in human-computer interaction. Concludes that a human-computer interaction community reflecting upon the future of interface will gain bona fide self-awareness from conceptualizing the machine as a component of society, rather than a…

Reviews the literature on the design and evaluation of user interfaces on CD-ROM. Defines interfaces, dialogs and interaction and explores diversity in, and issues associated with, standardization in interface design for CD-ROMs. Reviews current criteria and guidelines for the evaluation of CD-ROM interfaces and proposes alternative guidelines.…

Describes a study that was conducted to determine how temporal sound affected students' attention to critical information from a computer interface. Design issues are addressed, including modality, verbal information, constructivism, authoring software, expressiveness, and gender; and results are discussed that indicate temporal sound may help…

Results of two studies of user design preferences for link markers--entities that signify pathways to additional information in hypermedia information systems--indicate that, in general, link markers that employ color and bound objects are the most effective in communicating the existence and extent of links and are most preferred by users.…

Describes the Alexandria Digital Library, a geolibrary that focuses on geographical locations. Topics include the evolution of the system and interface design; design goals; user communities, including earth scientists, information specialists, and educators; user evaluation methodologies and findings; and future possibilities. (LRW)

Compares humanlike versus machinelike interactional styles of computer interfaces, testing hypotheses that evaluative feedback conveyed through a humanlike interface will have greater impact on individuals' self-appraisals. Reflected appraisals were more influenced by computer feedback than were self-appraisals. Humanlike and machinelike interface…

Describes a new model for quantitatively assessing screen formats. Results of applying the model to data entry screens support the use of the model. Also described is a critiquing mechanism embedded in a user interface design environment as a demonstration of this approach. (Author/AEF)

Examines the Museum Educational Site Licensing (MESL) Project--a cooperative project between seven cultural heritage repositories and seven universities--as well as other developments of cultural heritage image databases for academic use. Reviews recent literature on image indexing and retrieval, interface design, and tool development, urging a…

Describes an experimental system designed to organize and provide access to Web documents using a faceted pre-coordinate indexing system based on the Deep Structure Indexing System (DSIS) derived from POPSI (Postulate based Permuted Subject Indexing) of Bhattacharyya, and the facet analysis and chain indexing system of Ranganathan. (AEF)

This article proposes three guidelines for mobile technology design that address the needs and goals of teachers who are considered mainstream with regard to technology use. Devices should be easy to learn and use, focused on the curriculum, and instruction-friendly. Only if the three guidelines are followed by hardware and software developers…

This paper reports on an ongoing work in designing and developing a personalised search tool for teachers' online searching using Google search engine (repository) for the implementation and testing of the first research prototype.

The Business Communication courseware is a supplementary learning tool used in Universiti Tun Abdul Razak. It is used to complement face to face classes, online tutorials and lecture notes. The courseware's Instructional Design has been summatively evaluated with positive results. To ensure quality, the screen design is evaluated as well.…