Abstract

The tensions between centralization and decentralization in complex enterprise web sites are addressed from the perspective of conventional information architecture, based on the “islands of information” metaphor used by Rosenfeld and Morville. The needs include the identification and shaping of information spaces, the ability to manage multiple autonomous websites consistently, and a deeper knowledge of enterprise information architecture methodologies.

Abstract

Conferences, books, blogs, forums, magazines and courses related to the disciplines of usability, interaction and user experience have shown that the year 2009 saw some deepening in user-centered design techniques and gave more prominence to two key issues: web 2.0 sites and mobile devices designs. To this we must add the launch of interactive games based on augmented reality, a further step in interaction that, coupled with what the Wii offered us a couple of years ago, enables us to see where the videogame industry may be going, as well as the trends in interaction in the coming years.

Abstract

Information architecture (IA), which is based on the classical principles of solid traditional Information Science, was born in the late ‘90. This discipline deals with structuring, organizing and tagging elements of informational environments to facilitate searching and retrieval of information they contain, thereby improving the usefulness and applications of IA. Main systems or structures that build a website’s architectonic anatomy are the organization systems, labeling systems, navigation systems, search systems and controlled vocabularies. Nowadays, the information architecture praxis and design is centered on user needs.

Abstract

The discipline of information architecture (IA), although present in some way for over 50 years, has taken on special relevance with the advent of the Web and the explosion of the amount of available information. Nowadays, IA has clear pillars based on the managed content but especially on users, without forgetting the context. This article discusses components to combine when developing IA, and a basic methodology is identified. As the amount of information around us is still growing, IA continues to innovate with new forms of organization, more efficient search engines and Semantic Web technologies that let computers take care of the less creative part of coping with the avalanche of information.

Abstract

Evaluating the Information Architecture in an already deployed website is not an easy task. Most evaluation techniques are focused on examining system usability, but this is not the only factor that influences IA. The main technique that deals with IA in already deployed web environments is the Navigation Stress Test (NST). A new methodology makes this technique more informative by taking NST beyond simple notation on paper. This work proposes the use of NST combined with other usability testing techniques such as Thinking Aloud and a usability questionnaire. Eye tracking also has been used to supplement the information obtained from applied techniques. This new methodology has been tested by analyzing a series of websites belonging to Spanish public university libraries. The results of this study show the validity of the approach used, as well as the value that this approach and the use of Eye tracking bring to the analysis of IA compared to traditional NST.

Abstract

Certainly, in recent years there has been a breakthrough in regard to web accessibility: policies and laws have emerged, along with tools, technologies and guidelines for creating accessible content properly. However, despite these efforts, the Web is still largely inaccessible. In this paper we have analyzed the different technical options for implementation of systems of linear access to the websites, systems which greatly facilitate the accessibility and the usability of these pages and are often forgotten by developers.

Abstract

Effectiveness of longitudinal search analytics is studied, in the sense that search log analysis can be used as a tool to enhance website information architecture. A methodology of analysis is described, obtaining the seasonality of queries through the combination of studies on internal search logs (from internal search engines) and external search logs (from Google). Results show that a better information architecture produces better information retrieval results, both for external or internet search engines and for internal search engines

Abstract

With the development of collaborative systems, the web users create and disseminate information across the blogs, wikis and social networks. In that dynamic process, transmitter and receiver change roles to generate a huge amount of information that needs to be organized efficiently. We present the results of a benchmarking study, the goal of which is to determine the most recent tendencies for information organizing, navigation, searching and participation in six of the most significant newspaper sites.