SMARTAG - The smarTag Framework for the Adaptation of Generic Web Environments
Duration: 24 months (2010 - 2012)
Project Website: http://smartag.cs.ucy.ac.cy/
Principal Investigator: Γιώργος Σαμάρας
Main Funding Source: University of Cyprus
Total Cost: 41,536.1
The aim of this project is multi-fold:
(i) to evaluate the significance of human factors in the generic web structures and more specifically in the area of eServices’ field,
(ii) to propose a Web browser enhancement that will extend the well known html model with a new set of xml tags based on cognitive semantics,
(iii) to propose a new methodology for the dynamic extraction of users’ cognitive perceptual preferences based on their navigation behaviour, and
(iv) to propose a set of design guidelines for the automatic reconstruction of Web content based on users’ individual characteristics.
The proposed work is focused upon the implementation and evaluation of a dynamic Web-based framework, called smarTag, for achieving mass customization on the Web based on human factors. SmarTag will be an easy to use framework enabling any entity, Web designer and/or developer to enhance their Web services (technology and language independent) with adaptive Web objects that will adapt according to the users’ cognitive factors dynamically extracted. More specifically, given the users’ diversified perceptual preferences, the same service content provided by an organization will be reconstructed and delivered differently based on the users’ cognitive typologies and the proposed set of design guidelines.
This way, we will increase information assimilation, accuracy on cognitive targets’ searching activities and consequently enhance acceptability of the On-line services. The research that is described in this proposal focuses on incorporating theories of individual differences in information processing within the context of eServices and the dynamic reconstruction and adaptation of any hypermedia content to the benefit of the unique user. Previous research of our research team, in the field of adaptive eLearning, focused upon the enhancement of the quality of information presentation and users’ interactions in the Web by matching their specific needs and preferences with the information space. It has been demonstrated that the incorporation of human information processing factors in eLearning environments leads to better comprehension on behalf of the users and increase of their academic performance.
Furthermore, since the WWW is by definition a huge resource of information, it would make much sense that individuals’ information processing characteristics should be taken into consideration into this more generic context where constraints and challenges are radically differentiated. To that direction, our extended research efforts are focused on improving the effectiveness of Web services, and more broadly generic hypertext/hypermedia structures, by employing methods of personalization.