Homosapien Information Behavior and CitySearch.com

INFO 310: Individual Perspectives on Information Systems

Ryan PrinsAnthony TrotterJamie Yaptinchay

User Group

Description of the Information Behavior of the User Group

Our User Group

Who? College Students Looking for Entertainment in

Their CityWhy? To find out what information our user group

finds important, useful, and are barriers in finding local entertainment. In addition, to determine what venues our user group typically chooses to find such information and why.

Why?

College students are always looking for entertainment

Interesting to see how well CitySearch.com fulfills the information needs of college students.

College students are a very accessible user group to study

What is CitySearch.com?

CitySearch.com allows users to look for various types of information:RestaurantsBarsMoviesTheatresHotelsEvents

Participant #1 – Anthony’s Interview

User Identifying

Online or Offline?ConvenienceLack of money for other resources

Frequency of Searching?User’s typical resources?

NWSource, Ticketmaster, Google

Participant #1 – Anthony’s Interview

Human Information Behavior

User Searching Techniques? Search Strategies (from the 5 search strategies)?

Browsing - “I didn’t really do much searching… there was a link, and it seemed like something I’d search for anyway.”

Empirical Known-site (Ticketmaster)

Information Encountering (browse out of boredom) Information Use not yet realized. Will be used in the future Take me to bars later

Actions taken when barrier (or sense-making gap) encountered Accept barrier and adapt to the CitySearch.com system Sense-making Anomalous States of Knowledge (ASK) Information Searching Process (ISP)

Participant #1 – Anthony’s Interview

Site Improvements and Satisfaction

Keepers! Browsing Tabs (most

important)Change It! Add Proximity

Preferences Too Much Information.

Simplicity! Stupid Advertisements!

Kill!

Participant #2 – Jamie’s Interview

User Identifying

Online PreferenceQuick and Easy

Frequency of SearchingResources Typically Used and Why

Yahoo!

Participant #2 – Jamie’s Interview

Human Information Behavior

How the User SearchedProblems Encountered During

Information SearchingExcess of Information / Too Many LinksSolution: Trial and Error in Following Links

Participant #2 – Jamie’s Interview

Site Improvements and Satisfaction

It’s all about the Tabs…Satisfaction at Current Offering of

FeaturesLayout and the Importance of Pictures

Participant #3 – Ryan’s Interview

User Identifying

Prefers OnlineFrequency of Search: 1 – 2 times / weekFriends as Resource First

Participant #3 – Ryan’s Interview

Human Information Behavior

Search Process Location is Main Criteria

Important Information for User Rating Distance Cost

Problems Information Clutter

Participant #3 – Ryan’s Interview

Site Improvements and Satisfaction

Categorical TabsSatisfied With Current Feature SetPictures Were A HelpSimplicity is Key!User Customizable Interface

User defined portal

Commonalities in User Need

Proximity to ResidenceAvailability of TransportationCost

Commonalities in User Demand

Succinct Information Presentation

Categorization by TabsPictures as an Aid

Commonalities in User Want

CategoriesSearch Mechanism

Applying HIB Theory

Search Strategies Browsing

Using Tabs

Empirical What has worked in

the past?

Known-site Ticketmaster,

Yahoo!, Google, etc…

What’s your strategery?

Applying HIB Theory (cont.)

Information Encountering Information Use not yet realized. Will be

used in the futureTake me to bars later

How Encountering AroseBoredomFelt the NEED to Do Something

Applying HIB Theory (cont.)

Actions taken when barrier (or sense-making gap) encounteredAccept barrier and adapt to the

CitySearch.com systemSense-making

Sifting Through “Recommended” InformationAnomalous States of Knowledge (ASK)

Use of Directories Over Direct Search

Applying HIB Theory (cont.)

Information Searching Process (ISP) Initiation

First View of CitySearch.com Selection

Committed to a Way of Searching Exploration

Reading the Links Formulation

Applying Criteria to Links Collection

Processing What is Relevant to User Presentation

Information Found and Bookmarked in Personal Information Collection *DING*

CitySearch.com

Evaluation of CitySearch.com and Its Ability to Help Our User Group

What is CitySearch.com?

“The city guide to entertainment, restaurants, events, hotels, movies and businesses”

Various City PortalsA “One Stop Shop” for All Entertainment

Needs

CitySearch.com Demo

http://www.citysearch.com

Pros and Cons Determined by the User Group

Pros

Wealth of Information

Multiple Locations Tabbed Browsing Pictures Proximity Metrics Directions

Cons

Too Much Information

Invasive Nature of Advertisements

Intended Audience

Young Adults Special Events Concerts Movies Restaurants

Adults 21+ Events /

Locations Family Oriented All the Above Listed

Authority

Nature of Domain Commercial Site (.com)

The Organization Who Compiled It Ontario Inc.

Partners Expedia, Evite, Entertainment.com, TicketMaster,

Match.com, ReserveAmerica

Inclusion of Advertisements Targeted Advertisements Prevalent Throughout

Documentation

Ways To Get Help and Learn About Advanced Features

Availability of “Help” Link Right Next to Our Users’ Beloved Tabs

Format

LayoutFontsEffects

Blinking, Sound, AnimationSizeNumber of Graphics

Access and Organization

Navigation MethodsSearch FeaturesLinksCategoriesLack of Language Options

Quality of Information

Accuracy Dependent on Third Party Information Van Helsing Example

Completeness The Amount of Information Available

Language English Only, Variety of Language Style in User Reviews

Who Determines and Creates the Content? CitySearch acts as a portal that compiles the outside

information. The Content is Created and Determined by Outside Sources

(Al Qaeda)

Privacy and Cost

No Registration is RequiredPrivacy Policy

http://seattle.citysearch.com/templates/profile/policy.html?cslink=bottombar_private_policy

No Fees Are Required to Use the WebsiteAdvertisements

CitySearch.com

Ideas About Improvements

To Fulfill Our User Group’s Needs

Inclusion of Cost as a Broader Search Criteria

Finding Entertainment within Certain Pre-Defined Proximity

More Succinct InformationSummary / Expanded Option

More Emphasis on Outdoor RecreationSimilar to Activities Found @ the WAC

El Fin.