Models and guidelines for the design of progressive access in Web-based Information Systems

Abstract

Because of the large amount of information managed by Web-based Information Systems (WIS), their users often experience some disorientation and cognitive overload syndromes. In order to attenuate this negative effect, we introduce the concept of Progressive Access which aims at giving WIS users a flexible and personalized access to data. First, information considered as essential regarding the user's needs is provided, and then, additional information, if needed, becomes gradually available. Progressive access requires to stratify the information space. These stratifications are described through a central model called the Progressive Access Model (PAM). We present here the PAM and its connections to four other models (data model, functional model, hypermedia model, user model). We show how these five models are linked and exploited during the design of the WIS. Instantiating these models leads to the generation of WIS which integrate the progressive access approach. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.