Weaknesses of the Web Content of Senegal-Tourism Com Compared with Its Rivals' Sites - Research Paper Example

On Senegal Website and Heuristic Evaluation Method Literature Review Carlsson and Paulsson (2006) generally defined the so-called Information and Communication Technology, or simply ICT, as the technology of general-purpose “used more and more pervasively throughout the economy.” Paquette gave one good illustration of an ICT: a web site that contains class materials -- representing as information -- principally aimed at “mimic[ing] the classroom environment.” Paquette (2003) went further by saying, although implied, that ICT involves many and varied technologies both software and hardware in form. In the modern epoch, the Information and Communication Technology has a tremendous impact to the world economy in general and the local/national industry in particular (Fisher and McKee, 2008; United Nations, 2007). Via the media available in present-day ICT, expansion and transaction of international companies (i.e., MNCs) towards or from other foreign countries become more viable. The web page of Senegal-Tourism could be categorized as an example of ICT since it is a technology heavily employed for a certain purpose (i.e., commercial in nature). It must be noted, however, that Carlsson’s concept of ICT is strikingly broad. For one thing, Senegal-Tourism as website or software technology is far from being a “general-purpose technology.” Conversely, Paquette’s idea of ICT is more attuned to the Senegal-Tourism web page mainly because of its prominent relation or connection to such website in terms of strategy, medium, and communication resource. In the long run, ICTs vitally require a kind of evaluation commonly called heuristic evaluation method. The concept of heuristic evaluation was originally designed by Jakob Nielsen (Reeves & Hedberg, 2003). Mack and Nielsen (1994 as cited in Nielson, 1993) generally defined heuristic evaluation as a method of rigorously inspecting a “user interface design for usability.” Similar to conventional methodology, heuristic evaluation roughly consists of a well-defined set of principles. This set of principles widely varies from the particular type of heuristic evaluation method being used or employed. In general, heuristic evaluation has ten basic heuristics, which are applicable to any type of software technology; three of the heuristic evaluation methods, to give few examples, are pluralistic walkthroughs, cognitive walkthroughs, and formal design analysis. The methodology called cognitive walkthroughs was mentioned by Nielsen, which he described as one of the two “[o]ther usability inspection methods.” Conyer extensively defined cognitive walkthroughs as a method utilized in order to “evaluate the ease of learning to use a product, particularly by exploration” (as cited in Reeves & Hedberg, 2003). On the other hand, Nielsen’s heuristic evaluation is essentially a kind of pluralistic walkthroughs. Based from several studies conducted, he concluded that a minimum of three evaluators are needed in order for the heuristic evaluation to be “reasonable” (Neilson, 1993). By and large, using heuristic evaluation method in evaluating certain interface’s usability is advantageous because it is less time-consuming and more cost saving (Reeves & Hedberg, 2003). In evaluating a particular interface or software product, several key concepts or terminologies considerably require definition of terms. In computer-science jargon, web content could be defined as the textual representation contained in a specific website. Fiore and Tang (2006) implicitly categorized web content, or simply content, as words or group of words -- essentially a paragraph construction -- primarily intended to be placed into one’s “online store.” Content is fundamentally the text seen or viewed on the Site. Text here is, normally, in a form of written text containing, like the human language, codes or signs that have meaning. Moreover, web content imperatively requires weekly, if not daily, update and upgrade -- what Fiore and Tang called “refreshed periodically.” Website design, or simply design, is the over-all visual appearance of a particular web page in the online world. Lawrence and Tavakol (2007) greatly enumerated several key features of a good website design; in the process, they essentially outlined the concept of design in a certain website. The basic elements of a website design substantially consist of aesthetics, usability, navigation style, content, and structured and/or steeped approach. In particular, design refers to both the written and visual texts -- not to mention the space which represents as the background/foreground -- characterized in a specific Site. Of course, these texts, which include the space or spatial feature, are viewed in their entirety or organic whole, so to speak. Interactivity is significantly defined as the responses from the end-users, which generally take in the form of threads within certain area or space of a particular website. Lohr, Miller, and Winiecki (2005) tacitly categorized the praxis of interactivity as threads, which account for the user’s response or reaction to a specific topic, inquiry, discussion, or dialogue. In general, interactivity is the section or spatial component -- essentially textual in nature -- of the website wherein the end-user’s text-based responses are seen or read by the Site designers or owners. The notion of usability in the realm of the Internet refers to the process of evaluating or assessing the “design, organization, presentation, and content” of a particular web page (Zimmerman & Akerelrea, 2004). Dumas and Redish (1999) elaborated the meaning or intent of this process by saying that usability aims for a quick and easy way of “accomplish[ing] their own tasks.” By and large, usability points to the capacity or ability of the technology to provide “user friendly” elements in accessing and using the website. Recommendation The web content of Senegal-Tourism.Com has several weaknesses compared to the two Sites called Iamsterdam and London-Tourist-Information. In order to improve its web content, the Senegal-Tourism website designer has to perform three important tasks. First, the content of the website content should be satisfactory or adequately informative with respect to its end-users. For example, I amsterdam.com provides relevant information concerning its organizational composition (e.g., Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board) and its vital objectives (e.g., to provide information on exhibitions, concerts, and events). Unlike I amsterdam, Senegal Tourism is very silent on the people and their mission behind the creation of such website. Second, the content should be clear and helpful for the end-users. In London-Tourist-Information.Com, the Site gives vital health tips -- such as the need of vaccination and inoculation -- for its prospective tourists. In Senegal Tourism, however, it is not clear on its statement “Yellow Fever is recommended to visitors” -- it has no complete thought. And three, the content should be relevant to the purpose of the Site. In London-Tourist-Information, for instance, the end-users are redirected or linked to other websites that provide a comprehensive trade and industry information. In Senegal-Tourism.Com, however, its Travel Trade section appears to explore widely the economic character of such country, which is unnecessary. On the other hand, Senegal-Tourism’s web design is generally visual but substantially lacks several key elements. To improve for its design feature, the website designer has to consider three importance things. First, the color and the font’s style and size of the letters or words in the Site should not only be readable but should also consist of aesthetic value. Unlike Senegal-Tourism.Com, London-Tourist-Information.Com and Iamsterdam.Com are prime examples of visually stimulating and aesthetic Sites. Second, spaces between two paragraphs should be orderly or regular; avoid wide spaces. Iamsterdam shows a consistency in its spaces. And third, photos or pictures should tell more of the land called Senegal. In the Visit Senegal page, for example, photos concerning the harbor and weather substantially fail to capture Senegal as it is. In London-Tourist-Information, however, its images clearly show the country’s geography and culture -- e.g., the building architecture seen in it Homepage is characteristic of London architecture. And most importantly, the absence of interactivity in Senegal-Tourism.Com is virtually obvious. Website designers should consider the importance of the end-user’s response or reaction; London-Tourist-Information expresses the relevance of an interactivity corner by providing blogs which cater such interactivity. Feedback -- e.g., I amsterdam has Contact section which encourages user’s feedback -- is indeed empirical for the designers, specifically the owner of the Site, because it subtly reveals the degree of satisfaction felt or experienced by their end-users. Thus, it is highly recommended to include a section that tackles or explores interactivity. Conclusion This research paper is the result of a survey from a number of participants -- and its corresponding analysis or interpretation based from the data gathered -- concerning, in general, the usability of the website called Senegal-Tourism.Com. A survey form or questionnaire is presented and given to them; the items in the questionnaire are basically associated to the relevance (i.e., user friendly aspect) of the said website. In the survey, majority of its participants are women, which accounts for sixty-five percent (65%); the age range of these participants is from twenty (20) to thirty (30) years old. Since the Senegal-Tourism Site is obviously tourism-oriented, the participants significantly prefer to visit such website with respect to its destination information -- it roughly comprises thirty-five percent (35%). In today’s world, acquiring an adequate and reliable information is very essential. Moreover, information -- which include picture/visual information -- greatly stimulate and compel the viewers or end-users to travel in the place or location of which the information depict. In the study conducted by Fiore and Tang, it has been found out that information inherent in a particular Site should be “refreshed periodically” so that its end-users may find relevance or usability from it. On the other hand, it is interesting to note that the participants in the survey equally value the financial aspect when they consider traveling in a particular destination place (i.e., Senegal, Africa). The responses or reactions of the participants toward the Site are generally poor. In its visual content, for example, thirty five percent (35%) from these participants expresses discontent or dissatisfaction in the Site’s visual appearance; they view it as poor. This is supported in the result of the participant’s rate concerning the over-all website design. Furthermore, information satisfaction is perceived as substantially poor, which accounts to fifty percent (50%). By and large, Senegal-Tourism.Com as an ICT encourages and discourages the end-users to travel to Senegal depending on the Site’s content and design. References Carlsson, B. & Paulson, T., 2006. Information and communication technology sector developments in European and United States metropolitan areas. In C. Karlsson, B. Johansson, & R. Stough, eds. 2006. Entrepreneurship and dynamic in the knowledge economy. New York: Routledge, pp.216-235. Dumas, J. S. & Redish, J. C., 1999. A practical guide to usability testing. Exeter (UK): Intellect Books. Fiore, F. & Tang, L., 2006. Launching your Yahoo business. New York: Que Publishing. Fisher, M. & McKee, P. 2008. Flexible ICT infrastructure. In P. Warren, J. Davies, & D. Brown, eds. ICT futures: delivering pervasive, real-time and secure services. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, pp.68-77. Lawrence, D. & Tavakol, S., 2007. Balanced website design. London, UK: Springer. Lohr, L. Miller, K. & Winiecki, D., 2005. Using narrative strategies to enhance interactivity online. In V. H. Wright, C. S. Sunal, & E. K. Wilson, eds. 2007. Research on enhancing the interactivity of online learning. New York: Information Age, pp.101+. Nielsen, J., 1993. Usability engineering. San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufmann. Paquette, G., 2003. Instructional engineering in networked environments. Hoboken, NJ: Pfeiffer. Reeves, T. C. & Hedberg, J. G., 2003. Interactive learning systems evaluation. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology. United Nations, 2007. Information economy report 2007-2008: science and technology for development. New York: United Nations. Zimmerman, D. E. & Akerelrea, C. A., 2004. Usability testing: An evaluation process for Internet communications. In H. Bidgoli, ed. 2004. The Internet encyclopedia (Vol. 3). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, pp.512+. Read More