Abstract
The following is an investigation of the Web OPAC information and error message system. This study is a part of a greater research project involving the Web OPAC online help system and the use of online help. In the subsequent pages, we propose a classification of error messages: those related to the OPAC connection operation, related to the OPAC searching data entry, related to the result pages access, and finally, those messages related to the results navigation task. Both the coexistence of messages caused by the basic operations of information retrieval and the presence of additional and enriched OPAC messages are evaluated. The adequacy of the error messages to the recommended guidelines and standards in relation to their structure, contents and display are also studied. To conclude, some observations, such as the identification of the error messages that the OPAC offered to the user, as well as their major and minor frequencies, together with comments about the persistent problems found in the error identification and information messages generation systems, along with some useful recommendations for future studies, are included.
Highlights
MENSAJES DE ERROR E INFORMACIÓN EN LOS CATÁLOGOS EN LÍNEA DE ACCESO PÚBLICO generation systems, along with some useful recommendations for future studies, are included
Un defecto común es indicar el estado de error únicamente cambiando el contenido del campo al color rojo, práctica que vulnera una de las más simples y antiguas normas de diseño de páginas web: no se debe utilizar nunca el color como el único mecanismo de codificación, ya que no tiene en cuenta a los usuarios con problemas visuales
The PublicAccess Computer Systems Review, vol 6 (5) [Consulta: 14 julio 2001]
Summary
Los mensajes de error e información son una parte esencial del sistema de ayuda, por lo que han de tenerse en cuenta en el diseño y desarrollo de lo que a su vez constituye un elemento fundamental de los OPACs, la asistencia que brindan a sus usuarios. Un defecto común es indicar el estado de error únicamente cambiando el contenido del campo al color rojo, práctica que vulnera una de las más simples y antiguas normas de diseño de páginas web: no se debe utilizar nunca el color como el único mecanismo de codificación, ya que no tiene en cuenta a los usuarios con problemas visuales. Nota: Jakob Nielsen (2001) [Directrices 1-8 à1-5 (tradicionales) 6-9 (nuevas)/Shneiderman (1992) [Directrices 10-12]
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