EBSCOhostInterface Enhancements

Using Usability Studies

Leveraging ourthesauri and usage

Auto-searched synonyms available to userSynonyms, Spelling, Autocomplete

And spellchecker enhancementsAutocomplete, now a user preferenceSynonyms, Spelling, Autocomplete

Making EBSCOhost a great experience for ALL users

Going Beyond 508EBSCOhost 508/W3C Compliant for handicap accessibilityUniversity of Illinois Urbana/Champaign Center for Instructional Technology AccessibilityHundreds of under-the-hood code changes to improve functional accessibilitySeparate Text Only interface antiquated, retired on 12/31/07Side benefit of changes big reduction in page byte size, even faster page downloads than Text Only

From a userAs a JAWS screenreader user, I noticed [the changes] I can now quickly navigate through the EBSCO site. You have my grateful thanks.

Christie GilsonDoctoral CandidateUniversity of Illinois at Urbana/ChampaignCenter for Instructional Technology Accessibility

Extra steps to ensure compatibilitywith several assistive technologiesNavigation and text layout is not dependant upon JavaScript, CSS, or HTML tablesKeyboard only navigationPopular web site readers, text-to-speech software applications Speaking to other software vendors who require partnerships such as Kurzweil Educational Systems

ALL users

Asian languages

All interface labels within EBSCOhost

Including subject searchand other screens

HTML Full Text Translation

EBSCOhost MobileToday we have DynaMed PDA and EBSCOhost Text-OnlyComing in 2008 EBSCOhost Mobile will be a true wireless access Interface for all EBSCOhost databases

Image QuickView

Thumbnails on the Result List,first 4 or Show all >>

Also in Folder view

Article Detail (a.k.a., full record)

Image DetailTitle and CaptionSource with Illustration page numberHow to Cite help link

Photos

Photos

Tables

Graphs

Scientific Illustrations

Image QuickView (IQV)3,344 full-text journals will be includedOnly journals with native PDFs will be included (although not all native PDFs will have IQV)Currently 821,421 images are available via IQV, but by June 2008, this figure will be 2,056,178Initially, no separate limiter on the interface for IQV, but it is coming in 2009

Image QuickView Statistics By Database

Image QuickView Statistics By Database

Image QuickView Try It!

Visual Search

Visual SearchMain Goals of Visual Search 1.0:Allow users to explore search results and understand their relationships without forcing users to read every result and make those deductionsAdd an interactive and fun element to the EBSCOhost interfaceVisual Search 1.0 Issues: Usage very lowJava applet complicationsUnacceptable reliance on a since discontinued partnershipNow, two new Visual Search options that build uponoriginal visual search goals, and offer more features

Visual SearchOption 1: Columns

Columns!Highlighted breadcrumb trailEasy flowScroll results within Subject Clusters

Visual SearchOption 2: Blocks

Blocks!Compass navigationClick Subject Clusters to narrowRelevancy indicator

Blocks!Zoom in to see more detailDrag/drop blocks to Collect ArticlesYou Are Here map

Group, Sort, Filter Display ControlsDisplay Choice

Visual SearchWe recommend using Relevancy Ranking Sort as your profile defaultComing Soon:All limiters and search optionsMore than 250 results

IntroducingEBSCOhost 2.0A redesigned EBSCOhost Coming in July 2008

Why do a redesign?Customers have requested a Simple, Google-like interfaceEBSCOhosts main interface was last redesigned 5 years ago (August 2002) a lot more is possible todayUsability studies with end users have shown excellent opportunities for improvement

Goals of EBSCOhost 2.0Create a really simple basic search screenTake advantage of modern techniques available on familiar web sitesExpose great functionality that exists today but is hidden or underutilizedMake the simple basic search screen fit in well with all of EBSCOhostImprove overall EBSCOhost usability

Related ImagesHover your mouse over the image thumbnails to previewClick to see bibliographic record

Related Results from NewsBank

Hover your mouse over the article preview icon

Expand / Collapse side panes

Advanced Search New two column limiter display

When selected, Search History displays above the Result List

More functionality available when the user needs it

Click Choose Databases for a display of available databasesMouse over preview icons for detailed descriptionsSelect All!

Click More Options for a display of available limiters

Click Preferences for Now more preference options!Permanently save preferences to My EBSCOhost

Multi-Database searching access to Authority Files (Subjects, Publications, etc.)

Current advanced searcher functionality unchanged

Todays persistent links become the new URL... and easier to copy.Bookmarkable!

Articles, Searches and Publications now Bookmarkable

Introducing SmartText Searching

Starting with this article...

Paste the entire article into the Search box

A relevant result list!

SmartText ExplainedWe analyze each word thats part of the query for how unique it isWe apply a weighting to each wordWe issue a search using those weights as relevancy controlsWe are considering future enhancements to let users control those weights themselves

Lastly, EBSCOhost 2.0 offers an improved Article Detail (a.k.a., Full Record) and improved citing...

Article DetailMore prominent Full Text linksEasy copy persistent linksSimilar article resultsIcons for Print, Email, Save andCite!

Cite!Displays all citations formatsEasy copy to clipboard functionLink to Export bib managers

EBSCOhost 2.0ComingJuly 2008

Thank You

Working with Kent State School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) Usability Lab ---- ScanPathAnd doing our own Usability Tests and Focus GroupsTools such as: Hardware: Tobii eyetracking system, Kramer input switching and mixing system Software: Techsmith Morae capture and analysis, Noldus Observer XT Depicted here to help us understand where user views focus on the interface, where they click, how they use certain features

Use our extensive thesauriLarger ambitions, this is foundationUse our extensive thesauriLarger ambitions, this is foundationBetter labeling: Page title, Date limiter, Tab around and access keys: Drop down boxes, View source results

508 refers to: Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility for Persons with DisabilitiesFederal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)Hundreds of code changes to improve functional accessibilitySeparate Text Only interface antiquatedWork with experts: University of Illinois Urbana Champagne Center for Instructional Technology AccessibilityNew and other UIs:Medical VideosSearchasaurusHealth Library Custom PrintDynaMed UI enhancements and CMECHC: Health Library, EBRCHC Spanish InterfaceLRC phase II (without multi-DB)Small Engine Repair Reference CenterPointsOfViewInterfaceHome Improvement Reference CenterNursing Reference Center

Illustrations!

Color photos and imagery!Color photos and imagery!Tables!Currently only available via our New Features area. Try It this semester or enable it for all your patrons.New and other UIs:Medical VideosSearchasaurusHealth Library Custom PrintDynaMed UI enhancements and CMECHC: Health Library, EBRCHC Spanish InterfaceLRC phase II (without multi-DB)Small Engine Repair Reference CenterPointsOfViewInterfaceHome Improvement Reference CenterNursing Reference Center

We had set out to build one visual search that took the best features of each concept, but testing both designs revealed that they served different preferences for distinct user groups. Columns, where smooth navigation meets subject searching meets bright breadcrumb trail. Conduct a search and rectangles (articles) neatly formed in a column zip down the screen. Glide your mouse to the edge to see more articles. Like with Blocks, stack by publication or subject, sort by relevance or date, or filter using a date range slider bar.Select subject clusters to narrow your search and display another Column of results. When a user clicks a subject each previous set of results remain and the subjects are illuminated and connected to form a bright breadcrumb trail, visualizing the path the user took to get to their end result. Backtracking and choosing different paths is easy and dynamic.Columns was favored for its elegant navigation, easy to understand features, and visible search path. Blocks, described best as Tetris meets Google Maps meets EBSCOhost. Conduct a search and the blocks (articles) fall and stack themselves in orderly fashion. A user can stack the blocks by publication or subject. Select one of the subject clusters to narrow the result list blocks in your display. Sorting can be done by relevance or date, and a date range slider bar allows dynamic filtering by publication date.Like Google Maps, navigate via a you are here mini-map of the entire result list and compass zoom controls. Zoom-in to see more citation details of an article in their blocks. Zoom-out to understand the big picture makeup of your result list, quickly identifying relevant and new articles via indicator icons on each of the blocks. Collect articles by drag n drop into a special Favorites area.Zoom all the way in get more detail about the article. At any point select one and see the detail in the right-side area.New and other UIs:Medical VideosSearchasaurusHealth Library Custom PrintDynaMed UI enhancements and CMECHC: Health Library, EBRCHC Spanish InterfaceLRC phase II (without multi-DB)Small Engine Repair Reference CenterPointsOfViewInterfaceHome Improvement Reference CenterNursing Reference Center

User clicked on More Options from the result listClick searchSee the resultsNew and other UIs:Medical VideosSearchasaurusHealth Library Custom PrintDynaMed UI enhancements and CMECHC: Health Library, EBRCHC Spanish InterfaceLRC phase II (without multi-DB)Small Engine Repair Reference CenterPointsOfViewInterfaceHome Improvement Reference CenterNursing Reference Center