1UserPathways.graffleFri Feb 27 2009

Introduction

This document will explore the journey taken by users of the proposed Brill eBook platform.

The purpose of this activity is to establish what the users need the interface to do and identify how to focus interface design activities.

It might form the foundation for developing Use Cases on which the eBook plaftorm can be specified. It does not attempt to specify any requirements directly.

The pathways described in this document will be mapped against the potential of the eBook platform within the constraints of the project. There are many ways to satisfy user needs, and the next piece of the Information Architecture will decide how to address these needs most effectively within those constraints.

In this regard, the diagrams are necessarily high-level and conceptual. Try to imagine you are a user when following them. Any ideas they create about the interface requirements should be fed back to us, but in order to proceed, we need you to verify that these are the ways that users will wish to use the site.

Brill User Pathways Table of Contents

p2: The 4 User States

p3: Finding

p5: Researching

p7: Reading

p8: Using

2UserPathways.graffleFri Feb 27 2009

The 4 User StatesThe 4 User States

Users who visit the Brill eBook site can be conceived in four different states:

FindingUsers are looking for a specific attribute (e.g. an author, topic or book).

ResearchingUsers are looking to see what information the site can offer on a topic or field of interest.

ReadingUsers are focused on a single resource and are trying to consume the information it provides.

UsingUsers are trying to employ a found resource, for example saving, emailing, printing.

Finding

I want to find

this I want to know about [topic]

Researching

UsingReading

I want to read this book /

entry

I want to use the content I have found

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FindingFinding

Users are looking for a specific attribute (e.g. an author, topic or book).

F1 - The search box should be in a standard format, placed in an easy to find and consistent location - including the home page.

F2 - If a user is a regular user, they should be able to log in at once. Log in status and controls should be shown in a consistent location on every page.

F3 - The search box should enable the user to search directly for eBooks by Title, ISBN, main author, chapter author, editor, publication date, keyword, collection (Please confirm the available data).

F4 - The results list should visually indicate (as most prominent) the results that the user has access to. If the user is not logged in, it will indicate that they are required to log in to view the result.

I want to find

this

Brill eBooks site Home

page

Log in

type search

Find resource in Search

results page

Read pdf or entry

Log in

User requirementsF1 - I can locate a search boxF2 - I can log in if I want

F3 - I can search on ... (see F3 in side box)

F4 - I can see the results I'm subscribed toF5 - The exact match for my search term is very near the top

F7 - I can click on a link and go straight to a pdf

F6 - I can log in if I want

F8 - I can use the page of results I have found

Use results page

4UserPathways.graffleFri Feb 27 2009

Finding (continued)

I want to find

this

Brill eBooks site Home

page

Log in

type search

Find in Search

results page

Read pdf or entry

Log in

User requirementsF1 - I can locate a search boxF2 - I can log in if I want

Use results page

Finding (continued)

F5 - If a result exactly matches the search term (e.g. a title) then that result should be first or very near the top of the search results list.

F6 - The user can choose to log in when they access a result, if they have not already done so.

F7 - Links in the search results should, where applicable, direct the user straight to the host url for the pdf content. Results that link to pdf content should be visually indicated on the list. See 'Reading' below for description of user requirements in this state.

F8 - See 'Using' below user requirements in this state.

F3 - I can search on ... (see F3 in side box)

F4 - I can see the results I'm subscribed toF5 - The exact match for my search term is very near the top

F7 - I can click on a link and go straight to a pdf

F6 - I can log in if I want

F8 - I can use the page of results I have found

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Researching

R1 - The home page should describe the available content (e.g. x number of eBooks)

R2 - If a user is a regular user, they should be able to log in at once. Log in status and controls should be shown in a consistent location on every page.

R3 - The home page should show the methods of browsing the content (e.g. by date, collection, author, subject) and enable the user to see something of the content available under them. This could be text description or links to selected content.

R4 - Each browse method should have its own page so that users can see full and navigable lists of available content (e.g. A-Z or authors, time line of dates, subject groups).

R5 - When a user selects a browse method attribute (e.g. Author name or Subject category) then they should be shown a list of all the resources available that match that criteria - i.e. they will execute a search with the criteria.

R6 - The results page should present controls to modify the result (filter) by further criteria available in the data. These should be consistent with other areas of the site.

.

Researching

I want to know about [topic]

Brill eBooks site Home

page

User requirementsR1 - I can see what is available

Explore:• subject• collection• author• date

Log inR2 - I can log in if I want to

Explore in more detail

Apply filters to results list

R3 - I can see what content is available quickly and in different waysR4 - I can go to another page and explore content in more detail

R5 - I can see all the content based on my selectionR6 - I can narrow my selection to find fewer results

Read pdf or entry

Log in

Use results page

Search results page

R8 - I can click on a link and go straight to a pdf

R7 - I can use the page of results

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Researching (continued)R7 - See 'Using' below for user requirements in

this state.R8 - Links in the search results should, where

applicable, direct the user straight to the host url for the pdf content. Results that link to pdf content should be visually indicated on the list. See 'Reading' below for description of user requirements in this state.

I want to know about [topic]

Brill eBooks site Home

page

User requirementsR1 - I can see what is available

Explore:• subject• collection• author• date

Log inR2 - I can log in if I want to

Explore in more detail

(page)

Apply filters to results list

R3 - I can see what content is available quickly and in different waysR4 - I can go to another page and explore content in more detail

R5 - I can see all the content based on my selectionR6 - I can narrow my selection to find fewer results

Read pdf or entry

Log in

Use results page

Find in Search

results page

Researching (continued)

R8 - I can click on a link and go straight to a pdf

R7 - I can use the page of results

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Reading

Re1 - The user needs to quickly understand the context, the main topic, the available sections, the scope, and the purpose of the resource.

Re2 - The content should be displayed to support users scanning (e.g. headings visually distinct and closer to their sub text).

Re3 - The text should be displayed in a way that supports reading on line and other page elements should be kept to a minimum.

Re4 - Interruption to the flow of text should be minimised when pagination is necessary (e.g by placing controls in intuitive locations, not requiring the user to 'back up' and re-navigate).

Re5 - Links to related content should be located close to the content to which they refer.

Re6 - Links to explore more content (e.g. search for all books by this author) should be available and intuitive.

Re7 - Tools to use the content should be clearly located etc.

Reading

I want to read this book /

entry

User requirements

Re1 - I can see quickly what I am readingRe2 - I can easily find the section I want to readRe3 - I can read the words easily on the screen, without distractionRe4 - I can easily navigate through paged content with minimal disruption to the flow of contentRe5 - I can access any related content links without losing my place

Re7 - I can use the content I have found

external linkSearch result

Entry page

Re6 - I can explore similar resources

eBook

Use pdf or entry group

Explore similar resources

Research based on topic

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Using

Note: There is no personalisation on the Brill eBooks site.

U1 - The search results page should not prevent users from performing browser or 3rd party actions.

U2 - The entry or pdf page should not prevent users from performing browser or 3rd party actions.

U3 - Users should be able to paste urls into emails that will allow them to go directly to the same page later.

U4 - Print functions of browsers should be supported by the pages.

U5 - The pages should not prevent browsers or other 3rd party tools from bookmarking the page.

U6 - The user's activity within the site should not be interrupted by performing browser or 3rd party actions of this kind.

Using

I want to use the content I have found

User requirementsU1 - I can use a search results page

Search results

Entry or eBook

email

print

bookmark

U2 - I can use an entry or pdf

U3 - I can email this page

U4 - I can print the content of this page

U5 - I can book mark this page in my browser

U6 - I can continue with my taskcontinue with task