The purpose of this project is to produce a school website that promotes and enhances communication between the school and parents.

Discusses the development of an online restaurant recommendation system that allows users to search for restaurants in the Los Angeles area. The user can retrieve restaurant information including, name, type of restaurant, address, phone number, rating, prices and map. By logging in, users can also give their own recommendations and rate restaurants. The system also provides functions that allow a system a system administrator to manage the contents of the site. The project is based on Java Server Pages (JSP) language, Java Server Programming, which is a server side scripting language. Utilizes MySQL to maintain persistent data and Tomcat as a web system server.

Thesis (M. Tech.: Information Technology)-Dept. of Information Technology, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xiv, 170, [20] leaves / This study examines the efficiency, ease of use and ease of understanding of user interface designs implemented in current e-commerce websites. Four South African based e-commerce websites formed the test cases of this study. Selection of the test cases was based on the results and conclusions of previous surveys conducted by an independent research institution. The outcome of that survey identified the most popular e-commerce websites among South African internet users.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A multitude of factors affects the experience of the user on a specific site. Slow downloading, navigational difficulties and complex designs all play a role in destroying what could be an enjoyable experience to the user. Usability exists when the design of the system matches what the intended end users need and want. Most Web site designers agree that great design essentially has the user as its priority. Companies tend to forget that the user's hand is on the mouse. The most successful Web sites are those that not only respond to user feedback, but actively seek it out. We have to realise that the cost of flipping to another Web site is so low, it doesn't make any sense for people to go back to a site that failed them the first time. Most Web sites fail miserably at their prime directive: usability. The best way to run a user test is one-on-one, writes Fleming (1998:1). You don't need a large quantity of users for the tests to be effective. The costs in user testing are often exaggerated and there is no excuse for not performing some sort of user test on your Web site. When a page comes up Jakob Nielsen says, people look only one place, in the middle, at the content. (Head, 1999:2) If a page does not appear relevant to the user's current goals, then the user will ruthlessly click the Back button after as little as two to three seconds. Users rarely look at logos, mission statements, slogans, or any other elements they consider fluff. Usability is practically guaranteed if you have a solid information architecture at the outset. Make sure information is not more than two clicks away from the homepage. (Radosevich, 1997:3) According to the GVU7 survey, speed is the number one complaint of Web users (76,5 %). (Hamilton, 1997:1) Since users need web pages to load quickly, you should make your image files small. Try to limit the size of individual images to 5k, and try to limit the total size of all the images on any single page to 20k. Generally, a user with a 28.8 modem should have a sense of the page content or be able to navigate off the page within 10 seconds of download. The rest of the page should load within the next 30 seconds. Any site needs a good search feature since even the best navigation support will never be enough. (Nielsen, 1996a: 1) A search function should be provided if the site has more than 100 pages. Even if you haven't created perfect navigation, at least be consistent. (Berst, 1998: 1) The Back button is the lifeline of the Web user and the second-most used navigation feature (after following hypertext links). People rarely read web pages word by word - they scan pages to find the information they want. Make the text scannable with bulleted lists, highlighted keywords, meaningful headings, and short sections of text. The essential purpose of graphics, especially animated graphics, is to set the tone and communicate the company's personality in a unique and fun way. (Heath, 1997:1) / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Menigte faktore beïnvloed die gebruiker se ondervinding van 'n spesifieke Webblad. Aflaai spoed, navigasie en komplekse bladontwerp kan almal 'n gebruiker se belewenis van 'n Webblad verongeluk. Bruikbaarheid (Usability) bestaan wanneer die ontwerp van die sisteem voldoen aan die behoeftes van die eindgebruiker. Web ontwerpers het dit eens dat goeie ontwerp die gebruiker se behoeftes as prioriteit sien. Maatskappye vergeet dikwels dat die gebruiker se hand die muis beheer. Die mees suksesvolle Webblaaie is nie net die wat reageer op verbruiker terugvoer nie maar dit selfs aanmoedig. Ons moet verstaan dat dit so maklik is om na 'n volgende Webblad te spring dat dit nie sin maak om terug te keer na 'n Webblad wat jou eenkeer in die steek gelaat het nie. Die meeste Webblaaie misluk tragies in hul poging tot bruikbaarheid. Die beste gebruikerstoets metode is een-tot-een, skryf Heming (1998: 1) Die toets lewer betekenisvolle resultate selfs met enkele gebruikers. Nielsen sê gebruikers stel deesdae net in inligting belang. Indien inligting irrelevant voorkom sal die gebruiker nie skroom om die "Back" sleutel te gebruik nie. Gebruikers kyk selde na logos, missie stellings en slagspreuke en beskou dit as onbenullighede. Maak seker dat inligting nie meer as twee klikke vanaf die tuisblad is me. (Radosevich, 1997:3) Die GVU7 studie het bevestig dat aflaaispoed die gebruikers se grootste beswaar is.(Hamilton, 1997: 1) Enige Webblad benodig 'n goeie soek ("search") funksie veral as die Webwerf meer as 100 bladsye het. Die "back" sleutel is die reddingslyn van die gebruiker en die tweede mees gebruikte sleutel op navigasiestelsel. Gebruikers lees selde woord vir woord wat voor hulle staan, maar skandeer eerder 'n blad. Hou dus teks kort, met kort sinsnedes en kort kragtige begrippe. Grafieke se hoofdoel is om Webblad atmosfeer op unieke wyse te skep.(Heath,1997:1)

There is a growing need to better understand what influences user behavior for developing comprehensive IT security systems. This study integrates two prominent bodies of research, the theory of planned behavior used to frame the factors influencing user behavior and individual level climate perceptions used to frame organizational environment influences, to develop a multidimensional IT security user behavior model. The model is then used as the basis for a survey based research to empirically test the hypotheses whether the perceived IT security climate of an organization significantly influences the users beliefs regarding the use of IT security. The intent of the study is to extend the theory of planned behavior and IT security literature by investigating salient IT security beliefs and environmental influences on those beliefs. First, anti-spyware was identified as an appropriate target IT security artifact, and then incorporated into a multi-phased research approach. Second, a semi-structured interview process was used to elicit salient beliefs regarding use of the IT security artifact. Third, IT security psychological climate was conceptualized based on the extant literature on organizational climate, safety climate and IT security in order to examine the organizational environment influences on these beliefs. Finally, a survey was used to collect data to validate the constructs and test the hypothesized relationships. / The study found that there was a significant positive relationship between IT security psychological climate and 1) the belief that anti-spyware will protect organizational interests such as privacy and data, 2) the belief that anti-spyware will prevent disruptions to work, 3) the belief that the approval of anti-spyware use by the technical support group is important, 4) the belief that monetary resources are needed to enable the use of anti-spyware, and 5) the belief that time is a facilitating condition for the use of anti-spyware. A discussion of the findings and their implications for theory and practice is provided. / by Janis A. Warner. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M. Tech.: Information Technology)-Dept. of Information Technology, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xiv, 170, [20] leaves / This study examines the efficiency, ease of use and ease of understanding of user interface designs implemented in current e-commerce websites. Four South African based e-commerce websites formed the test cases of this study. Selection of the test cases was based on the results and conclusions of previous surveys conducted by an independent research institution. The outcome of that survey identified the most popular e-commerce websites among South African internet users.

Presently in South Africa, a large number of companies are developing an online presence. For established companies whose brands are already well entrenched in the minds of their consumers, the challenge lies in developing an online site that matches the expectations that consumers have come to rely on from that brand. It is interesting to analyse whether or not top companies employ similar web site design criteria as compared to the runner-up companies. This investigative study researches the application of web site design criteria by 102 leading consumer brand manufacturers in South Africa. Thirty-four objective, marketing-related site design sub-criteria were chosen and subsequently organised into 9 broad categories. These 102 leading manufacturers' sites were separated into leader sites (n=53) and runner-up sites (n=49), with the aim of identifying criteria (if any) that are specifically applied by leader sites as compared to runner-up sites. A quantitative approach was applied in this study. These web sites were checked for the application of each criterion and sub-criterion using content analysis, the results of which were recorded on a data sheet. The generated data was analysed using statistical software and specifically the statistical techniques of t-testing, cluster and discriminant analysis. The cluster analysis showed no difference in the application of web design criteria by leader and runner-up sites. However, the t-test revealed that the navigation and customer support criteria showed the most significant difference in its application between leader and runner-up sites. Discriminant analysis confirmed that navigation and customer support criteria were the most discriminating criteria, and also identified a third criterion of advertising/promotion/publicity. Additional research was undertaken to determine to what extent these three discriminating criteria were actually applied. This involved analysing the mean differences between the 'top 10 vs bottom 10' sites and 'top 30 vs bottom 30' sites. This additional effort further confirmed what was previously determined, that navigation, customer support and advertising/promotion/publicity are the three criteria which demonstrate a significant difference between leader and runner-up sites. This implies that most of the web sites of the top consumer brand manufacturers in South Africa clearly demonstrate application of these three criteria in the web design strategy. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2003.

This study describes the arrangement of four English department web sites. Arrangement is developed as an originally rhetorical, but now interdisciplinary, concept that is particularly relevant to web sites. For the purposes of the descriptions, this concept is broken into three aspects: how the home page of a site labels and lists links to other pages within the site, how the pages of the site are linked in respect to one another, and how visual elements indicate the structure of a site. Screen captures facilitate the descriptions. The sites are critiqued, and the findings are used to make suggestions for Ball State's English department web site and for English department sites generally. / Department of English

DISSERTATION Submitted in partial (50%) fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE in BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS in the FACULTY OF BUSINESS INFORMATICS at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2005 / The growth of the World Wide Web has spawned a wide collection of new information sources, which has also left users with the daunting task of determining which sources are valid. Most users rely on the web because of the low cost of information retrieval. Other advantages of the web include the convenience in terms of time and access as well as the ability to easily record results. It is also claimed that the web has evolved into a powerful business tool. Examples include highly popular business services such as Amazon.com and Kalahari.net. It is estimated that around 80% of users utilise search engines to locate information on the Internet. This of course places emphasis on the underlying importance of webpages being listed on search engines indices. It is in the interest of any company to pursue a strategy for ensuring a high search engine ranking for their e-Commerce website. This will result in more visits from users and possibly more sales. One of the strategies for ensuring a high search engine ranking is the placement of keywords in the body text section of a webpage. Empirical evidence that the placement of keywords in certain areas of the body text will have an influence on the websites’ visibility to search engines could not be found. The author set out to prove or disprove that keywords in the body text of a webpage will have a measurable effect on the visibility of a website to search engine crawlers. From the findings of this research it will be possible to create a guide for e- Commerce website authors on the usage, placing and density of keywords within their websites. This guide, although it will only focus on one aspect of search engine visibility, could help e-Commerce websites to attract more visitors and to become more profitable.