Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
“Implicit Interaction Logging” are strongly linked to the use of Internet-based
systems. Existing methods are well known in its basic design and its implementa-
tion and are only adapted to be used with Internet-based cartographic systems.
Various publications explain this in terms of increasing the usability quality of the
Internet through user evaluation (Schweibenz and Thissen
2002
). Pearrow (
2006
)
extends the “user-centred” idea to the fact that finally the technology has to serve
the user: “Accessibility and usability form the foundation of human-enabling
technology; that is, technology that serves us, rather than technology that we serve”.
In general, the determination of the user
'
s needs of a cartographic information
system can be increased and thus made much more efficient, more productive and
more sustainable by bearing in mind the following considerations:
Informative individual interviews instead of anonymous survey by means of
questionnaires.
Qualitative findings instead of quantitative results, to obtain “personal” infor-
mation rather than statistical values.
Interviews should preferably be carried out without any knowledge of existing
systems by the interviewed persons, to prevent bias.
In the scope of the work on Internet-based cartographic information systems, the
best results were gained through qualitative interviews with representatives of
potential user groups. The actual discussions could contribute to obtain a “feeling”
for the typical workflows of users and their needs on the developed system. The
talks also aimed to exactly define the main target audience of the system to
concentrate the further development process upon these results. Typical modi
operandi could be recognized and further utilized to enhance the user-centred
idea within the systems.
In the context of user-centred development of Internet-based information sys-
tems, special emphasis should be pointed out on the scope and quality of the
methods for testing the usability. This situation arises from the multiple special
features and the corresponding requirements provided to the users of these systems.
A permanent evaluation, accompanying each stage of
the development
is
inevitable.
Qualitative methods have thereby proven a higher information level than quan-
titative methods, particularly in the identification of user needs and accompanying
prototype evaluations. Due to the generally high degree of specialization of a
cartographic information system and the fact that users usually have a thematically
high, but cartographically low expertise, personal interviews with qualitative ori-
entation showed as the optimal method. With regard to the evaluation of graphical
components of the system, such as the maps and the visual implementation of
functionalities, “Implicit Interaction Logging” as well as “eye-tacking” methods
are efficient solutions.
