Adaptive and Reactive Rich Internet Applications

In this thesis we present the client-side approach of Adaptive and Reactive Rich Internet Applications as the main result of our research into how to bring in time adaptivity to Rich Internet Applications. Our approach leverages previous work on adaptive hypermedia, event processing and other research disciplines. We present a holistic framework covering the design-time as well as the runtime aspects of Adaptive and Reactive Rich Internet Applications focusing especially on the run-time aspects

Personal Knowledge Models with Semantic Technologies

Conceptual Data Structures (CDS) is a unified meta-model for representing knowledge cues in varying degrees of granularity, structuredness, and formality. CDS consists of: (1) A simple, expressive data-model; (2) A relation ontology which unifies the relations found in cognitive models of personal knowledge management tools, e. g., documents, mind-maps, hypertext, or semantic wikis. (3) An interchange format for structured text. Implemented prototypes have been evaluated

The web as a runtime in mobile context

Web-teknologiat kehitettiin alun perin kuvaamaan staattisten web-sivujen sisältöä. Web-selainten suosion vuoksi samoja teknologioita hyödynnetään nykyisin myös sovellusten toteuttamiseen käyttäen web-selainta niiden suorittamiseen vuorovaikutteisesti. Web-teknologioiden suosiosta huolimatta ne sisältävät useita ongelmia ohjelmistojen toteuttamisen näkökulmasta. Lisäksi mobiililaitteiden rajoitukset tekevät kaikilla laitteilla toimivien sovellusten toteuttamisesta haasteellista. Tämän vuoksi uusia ohjelmistoalustoja on kehitetty ratkaisemaan web-selainten asettamia rajoituksia. Tässä diplomityössä koostetaan vaatimukset mobiililaitteissa toimiville web-sovelluksille. Tämän lisäksi web-sovelluksille luodaan luokitusjärjestelmä ja tärkeimmät web-sovelluskehitykseen liittyvät web-teknologiat ja ohjelmistoalustat esitellään. Esimerkkisovellus toteutetaan käyttäen web-teknologioita ja hyödyntäen ohjelmistoalustan ominaisuuksia. Lisäksi esimerkkisovellus arvioidaan määritettyä vaatimusmäärittelyä vastaan. Arviointi paljasti lukuisia haasteita, jotka liittyivät web-teknologioiden puutteelliseen ilmaisuvoimaan, yhteentoimivuuteen ja ohjelmistoalustan toiminnallisuuteen. Tästä huolimatta esimerkkisovellus toteutti sille asetetut vaatimukset työpöytäohjelmistotasoisesta toiminnallisuudesta.Web technologies were initially designed to facilitate the creation of static web pages. However, the ubiquity of the web browser has motivated the use of the same technologies as a basis for desktop-style applications which are executed within the web browser and have their characteristics such as high interactivity. Despite the popularity of web applications, there exists various problems due to the fact that established web technologies were not specified with applications in mind. In addition, the constraints introduced by mobile devices challenge the ubiquity of such applications. On this account, new platforms have emerged extending the capabilities of web browsers. In this thesis, the requirements for client-side web applications in mobile context are synthesized. Moreover, a taxonomy for web applications is drawn and client-side web technologies and major software platforms relevant to the client-side web applications are discussed. Furthermore, an application concept implementation developed using web technologies leveraging the capabilities of the major mobile platform is presented and evaluated against the defined requirements. The evaluation revealed various problems related to limited expressiveness of web technologies, interoperability and platform functionality. Regardless, the implementation provided a level of functionality comparable to that of native applications

Internet user behavior change: an evaluation under three dimensions: scholars, professionals, and users

Pouco se sabe sobre a mudança de comportamento dos utilizadores em relação aos websites, influenciados pelo uso das Redes Sociais (SM) e Aplicações Móveis (MA). Evidencias estatísticas revelam que as SM e as MA estão a ganhar relevância na Internet e o acesso está sendo feito de forma crescente através desses canais, relegando os Websites a um papel secundário. O objetivo deste projeto é compreender a mudança no comportamento do utilizador na Internet, realizando uma revisão de literatura e compreender a perspetiva dos profissionais e utilizadores da Internet neste contexto. Os dados foram analisados através da técnica de mineração de texto (TM) para uma compreensão exaustiva, e encontrar informação e padrões escondidos nos dados recolhidos. Os resultados revelam que o estudo da usabilidade nas três dimensões indica uma lacuna na literatura nas áreas de nutrição e marketing, para além de que o estudo nas MA está subdesenvolvida. Profissionais da Internet revelam resiliência em colocar as SM no centro da estratégia online, revelando confiança de que os utilizadores continuarão a usar os motores de busca que os levarão ao website e que a relevância e a qualidade do conteúdo determinarão o uso contínuo dos websites. Os utilizadores com idade inferior a 31 anos têm mais propensão a usar as SM e as MA em detrimento de websites para pesquisar um produto ou serviço, o que implica que, no futuro, essas plataformas superarão o uso de websites.Little is known regarding the change of users’ behavior towards websites, influenced by the use of Social Media (SM) and Mobile Applications (MA). Statistical evidence reveal that SM and MA are gaining relevance in the Internet and the access is increasingly being made through these channels, taking Websites to a secondary place. The goal of this study is to understand the shift on the Internet user behavior by conducting a usability literature review in the three dimensions (website, SM and MA), and understand the perspective of Internet professionals and users in this context. Data was analyzed through text mining (TM) technique for a comprehensive understanding and search for hidden information and patterns. Result outcome reveals that the research in the usability of website, SM and MA contexts, indicate a gap in the literature in the areas of nutrition and marketing and the study of MA is undeveloped. Internet professionals’ reveal resilience on setting SM in the center of the online strategy, revealing trust that users will continue to use search engines that will lead them to their website, and that relevance and quality of content will determine the continued use of websites. Users under 31 years old have more propensity to use SM and MA instead of websites to search for a product or service, implying that in the future, these platforms will overcome the use of websites

User Satisfaction with Personalised Internet Applications

The study focuses on user satisfaction with websites and personalised internet applications in particular. The abundance of information on the web is increasing more and more. Therefore, the significance of websites targeting the users’ preferences, like personalised Internet applications, is rising. The aim of this study was to find out which factors determine user satisfaction with personalised internet applications. Factors like the usefulness of the information or trust towards how personal information is handled were considered. A large-scale user survey evaluating three internet applications (from the travel, e-learning and real estate domains) was conducted. Expert opinions were collected to complement the results and provide insights from users’ and experts’ points of views

Using contextual information to understand searching and browsing behavior

There is great imbalance in the richness of information on the web and the succinctness and poverty of search requests of web users, making their queries only a partial description of the underlying complex information needs. Finding ways to better leverage contextual information and make search context-aware holds the promise to dramatically improve the search experience of users. We conducted a series of studies to discover, model and utilize contextual information in order to understand and improve users' searching and browsing behavior on the web. Our results capture important aspects of context under the realistic conditions of different online search services, aiming to ensure that our scientific insights and solutions transfer to the operational settings of real world applications

User Satisfaction with Personalised Internet Applications

The study focuses on user satisfaction with websites and personalised internet applications in particular. The abundance of information on the web is increasing more and more. Therefore, the significance of websites targeting the users’ preferences, like personalised Internet applications, is rising. The aim of this study was to find out which factors determine user satisfaction with personalised internet applications. Factors like the usefulness of the information or trust towards how personal information is handled were considered. A large-scale user survey evaluating three internet applications (from the travel, e-learning and real estate domains) was conducted. Expert opinions were collected to complement the results and provide insights from users’ and experts’ points of views