Abstract

The actual markets globalization as a result of information and communication technologies development in general and the Internet in particular, have increased the importance of the user culture in online consumer behavior. Web pages are now a powerful communications medium for companies operating in international markets. In this regard, the same design will significantly affect the way in which users from different cultures process information received through it. The aim of this paper is to examine how web design moderates cultural differences among users when processing web information. The results show that a good web design, measured in functional terms, is able to reduce or even eliminate such differences.

Abstract

The ROPO effect (research online, purchase offline) corresponds to the process by which customers first search for information on the web and then finalize the transaction in a physical store. Like “showrooming”, the opposite trend, ROPO is a natural and common human behaviour that will not die off as digital consumer culture continues to evolve. Libraries can benefit from these practices if they are able to align their contents with user needs, offer library web sites with a user-centred design, and improve the user-experience. In this way, users can search for information on Internet, find and evaluate their library’s contents, and then go to the physical library to use its collections and services.

Abstract

Since the emergence of the Internet there has been continuous evolution in interface design, with designers trying to offer a good experience to users. Website developers regularly turn to heuristic indicators that have been collected throughout years of research and praxis. Nevertheless, these indicators are diverse and it is complicated locating which ones are applicable in every case. The objective of this work is to identify and analyze the most scientifically and geographically relevant heuristic indicators through a mapping review, in order to classify them according to formal and content components. The results are two taxonomies which make it easier to identify the location, and analyze and apply the guidelines.