Web applications are quite important and it can also be said
that they have become an integral part of the network compromising of global
information. Although, many tools have been developed for the validation of Web
application, however, not much is known when it comes to collecting the basic
information for one and its testing. In order to ensure that the first time use
of a web application is successful and no error occurs, the collection of
reliable data is very important.
Since
Web applications mostly compromise of online retailing and e-commerce
applications, it is very important to understand just how the application is
going to affect the target audience. The success of an application depends on
how good the users find it while using. Thus, knowing the habits of customers
or audience while they use the applications is very important. While, there are
some tools that can help in getting data for building a successful Web
application after a prototype, there are some techniques as well that help in
collecting the data. The two techniques using which the data of a prototype is
collected to build an efficient application compromise of log file and JavaScript
methods.
The
effectiveness of each technique has been described in the article. If the
method of log file is utilized then files can be tracked on routine basis on a
server of web host. With these files, the behaviors of visitors are recorded
such as visited time and exit pages etc. This technique is used by application
builders and webmasters to manage the storage and see just what can be changed
to make the Web application more successful. The second technique allows the
person to fetch information from the JavaScript code. With this method, the
activity of a visitor on the prototype is sent to a computer which helps in
hosting it (Murdock, 2006).
Interface Design and analysis methodologies for collecting
and recording data needed for building a Web Application
When it
comes to web-based software development, one of the most difficult aspects is
the knowledge and understanding of the user interface. The user interface
revolves around the visual connection of an application or software with the
person using it. In the article, it has been described that there are different
methodologies available for such a difficult topic. Some steps can rarely be
called methodologies as they include studying the competitors and noting down
what they are focusing on before implementing the same with a little
modification. Task analysis has been discussed upon in the article and the gap
among the normal methodologies.
The
most basic function when it comes to a methodology of design interface is task
analysis. It involves studying the tasks of users by utilizing a prototype. Moving
on in the article, the three components or elements of the user interface are
discussed which are User’s conceptual model, command language, and information
display. The methodology that has been proposed in the article involves the
utilization of representation’s three levels for ideas consisted in the UI. It
includes Task Description, Command Language, and the User’s Model.
It has
been discussed that the use of such a methodology compromising of such stages
is beneficial compared to all the other methodologies present in the same line.
The proposed methodology in the article has many benefits actually including
the concentration of designer on the view of user. With the representations,
the state of design is described after completion and before completion as
well. In the article, the representations are providing the basis for an
efficient data analysis revolving around aspects like the performance, interference
among different commands, and learning time (Irby, Bergsteinsson,
Moran, Newman, & Tesler, 1977).
Usability Engineering and System prototyping for collecting
and recording data needed for building a Web Application
The
advancement in the information technology has never been slow, it grows with
every passing year. The impact of such advancement is quite efficient on the
evolution of new and unique interactive systems. Such interactive systems play
a very important role in all the fields of modern life. The number of features
and technical sophistication which are offered by such systems provide a need
for a precise interaction between systems and users, research, and analysis. It
has been discussed in the article that in the development of interactive system
centering the experience of users, it is very important that design must be
made by following the needs of users.
Among
the needs of users, the goals of users concerning the system and the tasks that
they wish to perform using the system are important. In the article, the
challenges in the evaluation of intelligent systems have been discussed. As the interaction design reaches a specific
high level, it is very important to conduct an evaluation concerning the users.
With such a process, designers are able to assess if the requirements regarding
the users are fulfilled by the design or not.
The article
tells about another way that determines the long-term system for the systematic
consideration. The changes that are mostly likely to take place between the
system’s initial use and later use. There are many side effects in the
usability that have been described in the article and links with the changes
that occur as the time passes. In the development of interactive systems, the
behaviors and tasks of the users are the most important other than the
methodologies needed for the development as they are the ones that play an
integral role in the prototyping of a system (Spaulding & Weber,
2009).
References for collecting and recording data needed for
building a Web Application
Irby, C., Bergsteinsson, L., Moran, T., Newman, W., &
Tesler, L. (1977). A methodology for user interface design. Systems Development
Division, Xerox Corporation .
Murdock, K. (2006, May 1). Web Analytics: Data Collection
Methods. Retrieved from Practicalecommerce:
https://www.practicalecommerce.com/Web-Analytics-Data-Collection-Methods
Spaulding, A., & Weber, J. S. (2009). Usability
engineering methods for interactive intelligent systems. AI Magazine , 30 (4),
41.