Applying User-Centered Design Principles to Redesign the Interface to the Portal to Texas History: The IOGENE Project
Date: May 2010
Creator: Murray, Kathleen & Belden, Dreanna
Description: This paper discusses applying user-centered design principles to redesign The Portal to Texas History. Abstract: The IOGENE project at the University of North Texas Libraries applied user-centered design principles to redesign the interface to a unique digital library of cultural heritage materials, The Portal to Texas History. Since its launch in 2004, the interface had become dated and implementation of new functionality was constrained by the underlying technical infrastructure. Genealogists, a significant and under-studied class of digital library users, participated in the redesign of the Portal's interface. At the outset of the project, focus group discussions provided insights regarding genealogists' information needs as well as their research practices in relation to online information systems. In large part, these insights informed the functional requirements for the redesign of the Portal's user interface. Subsequent to each of two public releases of the redesigned interface, genealogists were engaged in usability testing. An online survey measured user satisfaction prior to and after the new interface was released. Results determined that satisfaction with the Portal significantly improved after the final release of the redesigned interface. The project's process and findings will be of interest to archives and digital libraries facing similar challenges in regard to ...
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28324/
Applying User-Centered Design Principles to Redesign the Interface to The Portal to Texas History: The IOGENE Project
Date: 2010
Creator: Murray, Kathleen R. & Belden, Dreanna
Description: This poster presents information related to the IOGENE project and discusses applying user-centered design principles to redesign the interface to The Portal to Texas History.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29805/
[Client Survey Summary: Portal to Texas History Interface Redesign]
Date: August 2008
Creator: Weng, Neena
Description: This paper is a summary of surveys conducted for the IOGENE project. It relates to information about the user interface of The Portal to Texas History.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc32995/
Open Source Components, Standards Conformance, and UCD: Building Blocks for Successfully Managing and Enhancing an Established Digital Archive
Date: May 2010
Creator: Murray, Kathleen & Phillips, Mark Edward
Description: This paper discusses open source components, standard conformance, and UCD. The Portal to Texas History is a gateway to cultural heritage collections from Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and private collections. From its initial release in 2004, the Portal's unique visitors had grown from 1,000 per month to over 20,000 per month. The user interface had become dated and the underlying digital asset management system (DAMS) did not readily support implementation of new functionality. The IOGENE project at the University of North Texas Libraries involved family history researchers, a major user group of archives, in a user-centered application development project to redesign the Portal's interface. At the outset of the project, an application development model was created to guide three teams: system development, interface design, and user studies. The legacy DAMS was replaced with an infrastructure and framework of open source components. Specifications and standard practices in critical areas were established. The Portal's newly minted interface and infrastructure debuted in two public releases in 2009. Subsequent to each release, usability tests were conducted and at the conclusion of the project, experiences and accomplishments were reviewed by the project teams. This review informed a revised application development model that may ...
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28325/
Open Source Components, Standards Conformance, and UCD: Managing and Enhancing an Established Digital Archive
Date: 2010
Creator: Murray, Kathleen & Phillips, Mark Edward
Description: This presentation is about The Portal to Texas History and the IOGENE project and the strategies and steps involved in their development.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28354/
Optimizing the User Experience in a Rapid Development Framework: Collin County Genealogical Society: Focus Group Discussion, July 2008
Date: July 2008
Creator: Murray, Kathleen
Description: This report provides information about the IOGENE project. The University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in December 2007 for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the Libraries' Portal to Texas History. The Portal provides users with a digital gateway to collections in Texas libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies, as well as to private collections. It contains primary source materials, including maps, books, manuscripts, diaries, photographs, and letters. The IOGENE project involves genealogists in the design process beginning with the initial assessment of their requirements and continuing through usability testing of the redesigned Portal interface. The results of this study will provide the library community with information about the needs and interface requirements of a little-studied group of lifelong learners who comprise a significant proportion of digital library users.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc32977/
Optimizing the User Experience in a Rapid Development Framework: Dallas Genealogical Society: Focus Group 1 Discussion, July 2008
Date: July 23, 2008
Creator: Murray, Kathleen
Description: This is a report of the findings from the March 16, 2008 focus group discussion with members of the Dallas Genealogical Society. The University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in December 2007 for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the Libraries' Portal to Texas history. The IOGENE project involves genealogists in the design process beginning with the initial assessment of their requirements and continuing through usability testing of the redesigned Portal interface.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc32978/
Optimizing the User Experience in a Rapid Development Framework: Dallas Genealogical Society: Focus Group 2 Discussion, July 2008
Date: July 23, 2008
Creator: Murray, Kathleen
Description: This report presents findings from the March 30, 2008 focus group discussion with members of the Dallas Genealogical Society. The University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in December 2007 for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the Libraries' Portal to Texas history. The IOGENE project involves genealogists in the design process beginning with the initial assessment of their requirements and continuing through usability testing of the redesigned Portal interface.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc32979/
Optimizing the User Experience in a Rapid Development Framework: Denton County Genealogical Society: Initial Usability Test Results, August 2008
Date: August 2008
Creator: Murray, Kathleen
Description: This report presents the findings of usability tests given as part of the IOGENE project. During March and April of 2008, members of the Denton County Genealogical Society participated in usability testing of the existing interface to the Portal. The purpose of the testing was to identify ways in which The Portal to Texas History could be improved to better address genealogists' needs. This report tells the findings from those tests. These findings in conjunction with the findings from focus group discussions held in the spring of 2008 will inform the initial redesign of the Portal's interface.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc32985/
Optimizing the User Experience in a Rapid Development Framework: Evaluation of Project Outcome: User Satisfaction Report, February 2010
Date: February 2010
Creator: Murray, Kathleen
Description: This report presents information about the IOGENE project. The University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in December 2007 for a two-year project to identify the user interface requirements of genealogists interacting with the Libraries' Portal to Texas History. This document reports information about the survey questionnaire, the respondents, the research findings, and includes the positive overall outcome regarding user satisfaction with the work conducted in this project.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries
Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc32984/