Customising interfaces to service-oriented digital library systems

  • Authors:
  • Hussein Suleman;Kevin Feng;Gary Marsden

  • Affiliations:
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa;Department of Computer Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa;Department of Computer Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa

  • Venue:
  • ICADL'06 Proceedings of the 9th international conference on Asian Digital Libraries: achievements, Challenges and Opportunities
  • Year:
  • 2006

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Digital library systems that once were mostly monolithic in construction are slowly making the transition to component-based models. However, it is not clear how best to design or construct the user interfaces to such systems – one alternative would be to create associated interface elements while another would be to create a separable interface layer. This paper discusses an attempt to do the latter by using current browser-based tools – recently named Ajax – in order to visually design the layouts, workflows and service connections of a user experience layer. Expert evaluators provided feedback during this process and the eventual level of functionality and usability of the proof-of-concept system demonstrate the inherent possibilities and relevance of the emerging Ajax technologies for not only the rendering or execution but also the design of browser-based Web applicatons, and digital library systems in particular.