A Revised User Interface Design for the Discovery Search Tool 'Summon': A Case Study and Recommendations

Jamal El-Den, Ngoc Lien Bui, Wendy Nguyen

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Paper published in Proceedingspeer-review

    Abstract

    The research investigated the usability of the “Summon” discovery tool’ user interface among External and Internal students’ at Charles Darwin University (CDU). Summon is a “Discovery” search tool which supports users in their search for scholarly literature (library catalogs, journal articles, and books). The library at CDU was faced with the challenge of offering users with an easy experience with the tool as a result of increase users’ dissatisfaction. Issues and concerns were raised regarding the adequacy and the usability of the tool. The research is conducted in order to find out these issues and in order to provide users with a highly depend tool for finding academic sources. Two experiments based on interviews and questionnaires were conducted on external and internal students using diary studies, heuristic evaluation and usability testing in order to explore the users experience with the tool and in order to identify its usability problems. Data from external and internal users were collected as a set of measureable factors for user interactions. The data collected from the interviews and the questionnaires was analyzed and the poor usability aspects of the tool were identified as well as the
    reasons of the users’ dissatisfactions was identified. The research did not address error prevention and a lack of step‐by‐step instructions. The findings from the experiments together with a revised interface for the tool where highlighted and the administration of the CDU library were provided with the findings and the recommended changes to the tool. These recommendations were adopted by the CDU library. These recommendations included a revised user interface design for the Summon tool which highlights the necessary changes to be considered. These changes contribute to an easier, clear and user friendly experience which will enhance the user’s interaction and user experience.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication4th International Conference on Information Systems Management and Evaluation
    EditorsJohn Blooma, Mathews Nkhoma, Nelson Leung
    Place of PublicationReading, United Kingdon
    PublisherAcademic Conferences and Publishing International Limited
    Pages81-92
    Number of pages12
    ISBN (Print)978-1-909507-18-0
    Publication statusPublished - 2013
    EventInternational Conference on Information Systems Management and Evaluation (ICIME 2013 4th) - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
    Duration: 13 May 201314 May 2013
    Conference number: 2013 (4th)

    Conference

    ConferenceInternational Conference on Information Systems Management and Evaluation (ICIME 2013 4th)
    Abbreviated titleICIME
    Country/TerritoryViet Nam
    CityHo Chi Minh City
    Period13/05/1314/05/13

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