La progettazione di un sistema distribuito orientato alla didattica

Nel corso degli anni l'enorme e sempre crescente disponibilita' di informazioni, soprattutto con l'avvento di Internet, e le innumerevo- li innovazioni nell'ambiente software hanno portato la produzione di applicazioni multimediali ad essere una strategia educativa efficiente ed efficace. Le informazioni didattiche accessibili attraverso il Web riguardano esercitazioni, soluzioni, richieste di aiuto basate sostanzialmente su due fattori: riuscire a rendere accattivanti gli obiettivi del corso in modo che l'allievo non si annoi ed abbandoni l'utilizzo del prodotto come mezzo didattico; l'uso del prodotto non deve pesare sul carico di lavoro dello studente e determinare l'abbandono del prodotto stesso. Con questi presupposti si sono analizzate e definite nel presente lavoro delle linee guida per l'analisi di un prodotto multimediale che consenta all'utente la fruizione in rete di sistemi didattici.

Webpage design optimization using genetic algorithm driven CSS

In the rapid emergence of globalization, e-commerce, and internet accessibility in remote parts of the world, ongoing feedback and participation from site visitors are essential for attaining clear and effective communication on a web site. This thesis presents a computational experiment for optimizing design of a webpage in an evolutionary manner. Webpage personalization is viewed as a configuration problem whose goal is to determine the optimal presentation of a webpage while taking into account the preference of the web author (designer), layout constraints (web design/editing language: HTML, CSS), and viewer interaction with the browser. The study proposes use of genetic algorithm-driven Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to assist the process of webpage design optimization. This method will engage visitors to remotely modify and enhance the style (type, layout and color) of web site to fit their aesthetic and functional representation of well-received design. The preference feedback from user will be stored in an application server for automated evolutionary selection process and reinitialized for the next generation of users. Through the experimentation of web prototype and user evaluation test, the implementation of this method is examined and the derived design solutions are analyzed based on web aesthetics, standards, and accessibility

A study of process improvement activities for web development processes within a small company

This thesis describes activities carried out in order to improve a small company's web development process, specifically focusing on the areas of reuse and web accessibility. CACDP are the examinations board for British Sign Language and other related disciplines. Within the domain of web development they have no formal processes and no skills or knowledge with which to improve them. They wish to develop four new web based products, and to apply accessibility guidelines to both these and their existing web site. The areas of web development, process Improvement and reuse are investigated, specifically In relation to their suitability for CACDP, and an action list is drawn up of tasks that will assist them in achieving their aims. A formal process is defined and implemented in an iterative procedure, designed to gradually improve their working practices, and work towards achieving improvements in some of the Key Process Areas of the Capability Maturity Model. Reuse is targeted as a specific way to achieve efficiency within the development, and web accessibility is particularly important to CACDP as they work with many people who are affected by the lack of accessibility. The thesis describes the production of the applications using the defined process, and the problems faced during the implementation. These problems are reviewed and suggested improvements are integrated into the next implementation of the process. This project has resulted in the successful introduction of a formal process for the development of web-based applications. Reuse is now being used within the company to reduce cost and improve productivity. Accessibility standards have been implemented in all products. CACDP have benefited from increased services for their customers, increased profitability, mature development and maintenance procedures, the introduction of a reuse programme for their future development and technical learning and training for their staff

Analysing usability and security issues in design and development of information systems

Recent technological advancements and the global economic challenges have meant that, individuals and businesses are constantly seeking new ways to exploit Information Systems (IS) and in manners that not only enhance user experiences and/or improve business processes and productivity, but also protect the individual‟s privacy and business assets for competitive advantage. Therefore, Information Systems need to be designed and developed to meet these challenges and/or other objectives. This thesis will delve primarily into the history of IS as a basis for establishing where the problem(s) lie or emanate from. It will focus on critically analysing existing Information Systems, and investigating the conflicting issues of usability and security, from an Information Systems Design and Development perspective by analysing various approaches. An in-depth review of literature and critical analysis of requirements necessary for the design and development of a usable and secure Information System will be carried out and will form the intellectual framework for this research. The premise therefore, is to look for a balanced approach or appropriate trade-off framework for designing usable-secure systems. The research will conclude with a discussion on how an envisaged conceptual framework or model can be developed based on certain influential factors, and how the framework can be experimentally evaluated, and to suggest areas for further improvement or future research

The Derivation of a pragmatic requirements framework for web development.

Web-based development is a relatively immature area of Software Engineering, producing often complex applications to many different types of end user and stakeholders. Web Engineering as a research area, was created to introduce processes that enable web based development to be repeatable and to avoid potential failure in the fast changing landscape that is the current ubiquitous Internet. A survey of existing perspectives from the literature highlights a number of points. Firstly, that web development has a number of subtle differences to Software Engineering and that many web development methods are not used. Further, that there has been little work done on what should be in a web development method. A full survey of 50 web development methods finds that they do not give enough detail to be used in their entirety; they are difficult for a non-computer scientist to understand in the techniques they use and most do not cover the lifecycle, particularly in the area of requirements, implementation and testing. This thesis introduces a requirements framework for novice web developers. It is created following an in-depth case study carried out over two years that investigates the use of web development methods by novice developers. The study finds that web development methods are not easy to understand, there is a lack of explanation as to how to use the techniques within the method and the language used is too complex. A high level method is derived with an iterative process and with the requirements phase in the form of a framework; it addresses the problems that are discussed and provides excellent support for a novice web developer in the requirements phase of the lifecycle. An evaluation of the method using a group of novice developers who reflect on the method and a group who use it for development finds that the method is both easy to understand and use

The derivation of a pragmatic requirements framework for web development

Web-based development is a relatively immature area of Software Engineering, producing often complex applications to many different types of end user and stakeholders. Web Engineering as a research area, was created to introduce processes that enable web based development to be repeatable and to avoid potential failure in the fast changing landscape that is the current ubiquitous Internet. A survey of existing perspectives from the literature highlights a number of points. Firstly, that web development has a number of subtle differences to Software Engineering and that many web development methods are not used. Further, that there has been little work done on what should be in a web development method. A full survey of 50 web development methods finds that they do not give enough detail to be used in their entirety; they are difficult for a non-computer scientist to understand in the techniques they use and most do not cover the lifecycle, particularly in the area of requirements, implementation and testing. This thesis introduces a requirements framework for novice web developers. It is created following an in-depth case study carried out over two years that investigates the use of web development methods by novice developers. The study finds that web development methods are not easy to understand, there is a lack of explanation as to how to use the techniques within the method and the language used is too complex. A high level method is derived with an iterative process and with the requirements phase in the form of a framework; it addresses the problems that are discussed and provides excellent support for a novice web developer in the requirements phase of the lifecycle. An evaluation of the method using a group of novice developers who reflect on the method and a group who use it for development finds that the method is both easy to understand and use.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo