Some Impacts of International Web Access and Agent Technology on the Evolution of User-Centered Design: A Study in Universal Access

摘要

User-centered design is evolving to accommodate the impacts of internationalization and new technologies such as intelligent agents. Because Web site users are potentially scattered around the globe, traditional user-centered design practices are evolving. Under the pressure of Internet time, design proceeds with little direct knowledge of user characteristics. An investigation into serving the goals of user-centered design faced the challenges of introducing intelligent agent technology over the Web to an international user group. Projecting a trustworthy agent personality to this diverse user set became a primary design goal. Commonly held usability principles were applied to user needs encapsulated in a synthesized culture. While this method is not based on traditional understanding of users and their needs, it centers on making a site's offerings available to its targeted users across the globe.