8.Case study on the comparison of search and download speeds of standard and mobile interfaces
It would seem logical that the “cleaner” and simpler publisher interfaces make for quicker and easier downloads of materials. However, we would like to check whether this assumption is true. We have designed several short exercises to compare download times for standard and low bandwidth versions of publishers websites as well as mobile versions and at different times of day. We have also included links to the Aptivate LoBand service that strips down websites to reduce the incoming size of a website.
A summary and discussion of the findings will be published as an INASP case study and will be shared with publishers to guide their future website development.
If you would be willing to assist us, could you work through the process in the following pages, recording your results and opinions. Please comment on any aspects you feel interesting in terms of speed, interface clarity and functionality.
I am aware that there are numerous factors which could affect download speeds, but I am hoping this study will provide a starting point. We have created a variety of exercises for participants to undertake with feedback via an Excel spreadsheet (which can be downloaded from http://www.inasp.info/media/www/documents/Download-speeds-timing-sheet.xls) or on this Survey Monkey form. The only subscribed resource used in this exercise is Cambridge Journals Online. The EBSCO resource referred to is free.
You might like to ask a colleague to do the timing while you do the searches.
To try to minimise other variables, could you close other programmes on your computer before starting this exercise.
Your findings will be helpful even if you feel you are only able to do this process for one or two of the sections.
If you respond by 31 May 2011 and provide your name and email address, we will enter you in a draw to win $75 Amazon vouchers.
A summary and discussion of the findings will be published as an INASP case study and will be shared with publishers to guide their future website development.
If you would be willing to assist us, could you work through the process in the following pages, recording your results and opinions. Please comment on any aspects you feel interesting in terms of speed, interface clarity and functionality.
I am aware that there are numerous factors which could affect download speeds, but I am hoping this study will provide a starting point. We have created a variety of exercises for participants to undertake with feedback via an Excel spreadsheet (which can be downloaded from http://www.inasp.info/media/www/documents/Download-speeds-timing-sheet.xls) or on this Survey Monkey form. The only subscribed resource used in this exercise is Cambridge Journals Online. The EBSCO resource referred to is free.
You might like to ask a colleague to do the timing while you do the searches.
To try to minimise other variables, could you close other programmes on your computer before starting this exercise.
Your findings will be helpful even if you feel you are only able to do this process for one or two of the sections.
If you respond by 31 May 2011 and provide your name and email address, we will enter you in a draw to win $75 Amazon vouchers.