1、 1 外文翻译 The Information Architecture for Website Design Material Source： Springer link Author: Peter Morville Information Architecture is: “First: individual who organizes the patterns inherent in data, making the complex clear; Second: a person who creates the structure or map of information which
2、allows others to find their personal paths to knowledge.“ This is the definition by Richard Saul Wurman who was first person coined the term. Wurman views architecture as the science and art of creating an “instruction for Organized space.“ It involves the design of organization, labeling, navigatio
3、n, and search systems to help people find and manage information more successfully. Information architecture is the term used to describe the structure of a system, i.e. the way information is grouped, the navigation methods and terminology used within the system. Originally, the theory is applied i
4、n the architecture of text information. Due to the rapid rise of the Internet, network information has been growing explosively. When people face massive information, they also have difficulties on how to choose and get effective information. At this point, information architecture emerged. On the w
5、eb, IA is a combination of organizing a sites content into cate gories and creating an interface to support those categories. It composed with the Following parts: (1) Organization system. Divide information in different categories and based on the characteristics of the content, targeting customers
6、 with diversified interests. According to Wurman, there are five ways to organizing information: Location (organize information on the characteristics of location), Alphabet(organize information according to their alphabetical order), Timeline( organize information chronologically). Category (organi
7、ze information by different categories) and Hierarchy (organize information according to a hierarchical relationship (eg. importance). (2) Labeling system. Create a unified labeling program for each specific group of contents of information. (3) Navigation system. Set up the web browser to help user
8、s map out the information the need. 2 (4) Search system. Help people develop retrieval expression matching related documents to meet users information requirements. The goal of information architecture is to achieve the best searching results through web construction. IA is characterized by its prac
9、tice; not by its research. In the following part of the paper we are going to apply the theory to analyze two Ecommerce websites in China and discuss the feature design and future improvements needed for each site. The Searching Case The sequence of shopping for most people is: first, decide what co
10、mmodity to buy; second, set the price; third, decide the quality and function of the merchandise. For online shopping the website should present the feature and function of each product Jin Niel, Huiling Hao2 235 clearly and accurately to help consumers search them on the net. We chose MP3 as the me
11、rchandise for searching study. Other specific product requirements are: price not higher than RMB500; Color screen with multimedia function; volume no less than 1GB. The selected websites are Dl convenience website (http:/)and Yixun webs (http:/). There are three kinds of strategies to be implemente
12、d in information contents arrangement: navigation layout, classification and search engine layout. We focused on the three kinds of layout study of the two websites. For each search we use the same computer operation system, same network speed, the exactly same individual to conduct the search activ
13、ities. We also count the time on each searching practice and based on the searching speed to find out the right MPS product to conduct our analysis. We finish our search in November 2006.Search plan 2 -classification directory the search program of organization system is to search through the list o
14、f the commodities by classification.(1) Dl conveniencewebsiterhttp:/ Digital products-* digital music-*MP3 player-* linked to the page of plan1 (navigation bar)(2)Yixun website(http:/)Digital video and music device-*MP3 player-* linked to the page of plan 1 (navigation bar)Based on the analysis, we
15、generated the following suggestions: (1) If the definition of two products is hard to distinguish, organized them into the same category, create unified retrieval formula and increase the limited indicators for each good. This will avoid missing in search. For the two websites we should put MPS and
16、MP4 into the same classification catalog, using unified logo “MPS and MP4“. Adding the keywords of commoditys description into catalog, not only volume, price, and also whether supporting video format, whether there are affiliated functions (such as photo browser, text browser, etc.) 3 (2) Enhancing
17、 the sub-directories for each kind of product. In the general directory “MPS“ should be one of the sub directories based on the performance of MPS (Brand, volume, etc.). Sub-directory can help user narrow down the types of goods in their search. For example, when all MPS with volume bigger than IG a
18、re listed, user can also limit price selection in current search, and people can find the products satisfy both obtain conditions. The sub-directory level should be suitable JinNiel, HuilingHao2 239which is neither too shallow nor too deep. Cognitive psychologists Miller said that the symbols amount
19、 or the block size which people can preserve and deal effectively with in a short memory is 5-9, generally limited to 7. So the depth should be ensured that users will not be forced to click more than 4.5 layers to reach the target information. (3) The list of commodities should be arranged in a use
20、r friendly way, not in random order. Random array will make user feel that information is fragmented and lose the interest to go on. So whenever results are returned, products should be automatically put in order according to some manner such as time, price and so on. For example, search results are
21、 listed with the order that prices from high to low. The arrangement will not influence the normal operation, but make the results more acceptable. In addition, the website should provide other ranking methods for customers to make the selections.(4) The design of the directory should be extensible.
22、 Both websites we studied in this paper are small and medium-sized E-commerce websites. For small and medium sized business websites possess relatively less commodities, so it is not necessary to classify the goods into more detail. Sometimes, too exhaustive categories will bring about reverse effec
23、ts. But considering the amount of goods will increase in the future, the designers must make sure that the structure can adjust to changes. By the time not only the quantity of commodities increases, but also the frame of commodity classification changes. So the information structure should be desig
24、ned to facilitate the expansion and modifications from the very beginning. For example, now MP4 products have not become prevail in the market and are very alike with MP3, so gathering them into one catalog is more helpful for users. With the technology development, MP4s functions become more powerf
25、ul, and the differences between them are gradually obvious. At that time, we should consider whether or not to separate them into two category lists. (5) Search engine is a very powerful tool in the search process. But as for the theory of search system, designers should be careful when making decis
26、ion on whether the website really needs a search engine 11. There are two things need to 4 be thanked ahead: Dose the website have enough contents and will the search engine divert resources from more useful navigation systems? Yixun is a small website which has relatively less information. Navigati
27、on and organization system are effective enough to help users make quick selection. Search engine may not fit in this situation. In addition, plan 3 has indicated that the current search engine in Yixun is not efficient and replacing it with navigation and organization system may increase efficiency
28、. (6) Future work. The research result may be not accurate as we predicted since the research was based on two websites and the testing time is limited. We need to conduct further detailed research on a more broad data collection and analysis basis. 5 译文 网站的信息架构理论 资料来源： Springer link 作者： Peter Morvi
29、lle 信息架构是：第一：谁组织了个人固有数据模式，使复杂变得明确，二：一个人谁创造的结构或 信息的方式可以使得他人可以发现数据内容。这是由Richard Saul Wurman创造的“谁是第一人”的术语定义。 Wurman认为结构和空间组织的科学和艺术是一样的。它涉及到组织设计，组织标识，组织导航和搜索系统，帮助人们更成功地找到和管理信息。从信息架构是用来描 述一个系统的结构来看，那么它就是 信息分组的方式，方法和导航中所使用的术语的系统。本来，这个理论只是应用在文字信息体系结构。 但由于因特网的迅速崛起，网络信息每年成爆炸式的增长。当人们面对海量信息，如何选择和得到有效信息变得越来越难。从
30、这一点上来说，信息架构是必然的。在网络上，信息构架是组织一个网站的内容进行分类组合 并创建一个接口，以支持这些类别。它的组成以下部分： （ 1）组织体系。基于 内容的特点和客户的利益多元化的，在不同类别的信息之间必须存在联系，跟据 Wurman，有五种方式来组织信息：位置（信息的组织位置），字母（组织 根据自己的信息排名不分先后），时间线（组织信息 按时间顺序）。类别（组织按不同类别的信息）和层次（组织信息，按照等级关系重要性）。 （ 2）标签制度。为每个特定群体的统一标识方案内容的信息。 （ 3）导航系统。设置 Web浏览器来帮助用户绘制出信息的需要。 （ 4）检索系统。帮助人们开发相关的检
31、索表达式匹配文件，以满足用户的信息需求。通过网络建设构建信息架构的目标是要达到最好的搜索结果。信息构架的特点是研究它的做法，而不研究它的理论。在本文的以下部分，我们要运用理论来分析两个中国网站 的电子商务信息构架， 并讨论每个站点的功能设计和今后改进。 搜索的案例： 购物的大多数人的顺序是：第一，决定买什么商品；第二，确定的价格 ;第三，决定了商品质量和功能。对于网上购物网站应该目前每个产品的特性和功能： Jin Niel, Huiling Hao2235 清晰，准确地帮助消费者能够在网上搜索他们。我们选择的 MP3作为搜寻与研究的商品。搜索的具体产品的要求是：价格不高于 500 元；彩色屏幕
32、和多媒体功能，体积也没有少小于 1GB。选定的网站是Dl方便网站（ http:/）和义埙网站（ http:/）。有三6 种类型的战略要实施信息内容安排：导航布局，分类和搜索引擎的布局。我们选择着重于布局的三种网站两个研究。对于每一个搜索，我们使用相同的计算机操作系统，同网络的速度，正是同一个人进行搜索活动。我们还计算每个搜索用的时间，以搜索出合适的 mp3产品的速度来进行我们的分析。我们于 2006年 11 月完成我们的搜索。搜索计划 2：（ 1）分类目录系统程序组织搜索的搜索目录商品的分类。 Dl方便网站（ www.dl ）数码产品 -数字音乐 MP3播放器 -链接到计划 1的页面（导航栏）
33、 icons网站（ ）数字视频和音乐设备 -MP3 播放器 -链接到计划 1 的页面（导航栏）在前面探讨的基础上，我们产生了以下建议：如果两种产品的定义很难区分，就把组织到同一类别，建立统一的检索式，并增加一定好区分的指标。这可以避免产品失踪的现象。对于两个网站，我们应该把 MP3 和 MP4组织到相同的分类目录，使用统一标识“ MPS 和 MP4”。添加商品的描述关键字到目录，不仅包括数量，价格，还有是否支持视频格式，是否有关联（如照片浏览器， 文本浏览器等）功能等。（ 2）加强对每一种产品的子目录。在一般目录 MP3应该是对性能的基础上组织子目录 mp3-（品牌，数量等）。子目录可以帮助在
34、他们的搜索用户缩小商品类型。例如，当使用体积更大所有 MPS目录时，用户也可以限制在当前搜索价格选择，人们可以找到满足这两个条件的产品。该子目录水平应该是合适的。 JinNiel，HuilingHao2239 这既不是太肤浅，也不太深。认知心理学家米勒说，额或符号块大小应该由人们可以有效地保存和处理的内存 5-9 之间，一般仅限于 7。因此，应确保深入用户将不会被迫点击超过四五层 ，就可以达到目标信息。（ 3）商品清单应安排在一个用户友好的方式下，而不是在随机顺序。随机阵列将让用户感觉到信息是支离破碎，失去了兴趣发掘。因此，一旦返回结果，产品应为了自动地把根据一些如时间，价格等方式组织起来。例
35、如，搜索结果列出的顺序从高向低的价格。该安排不会影响正常运行，而且使结果更可以让客户接受的。此外，网站应该提供其他的排名方法可以让客户作出选择。（ 4）目录的设计应具有可扩展性。我们研究了两个网站本文是小型和中小型电子商务网站。对于中小型商业网站拥有的商品相对较少，因此没有必要分成更详细的商品。有时 ，过详尽的类别将带来反向影响。但考虑到未来货物的数量会增加，设计者必须确保结构能适应变化。到时候不仅商品数量增加，而且商品的框架分类也会变化。因此，信息结构的设计应从一开始便要考虑到方便扩充和修改。比如，现在的 MP4产品还没有在市场成为普遍，并与 MP3非常相似，所以他们把收集到一个目录更适合用
36、户。随着科技发展的 MP4的功能变得更加强大，之间的差异他们正逐渐明显。在那个时候，我们应该考虑是否将他们分成两个类别列出。（ 5）搜索引擎是搜索过程中非常有力的工具。但对于搜索系统理论，设计时一定要谨慎决策，是否真的需要 一个网站搜索引擎。有两件事情是需要7 提前思考的：网站有足够的内容，将搜索引擎转移更为强大的导航系统上的资源。 icson是一个小网站其中有相对较少的信息。导航和组织制度是足够有效帮助用户进行快速选择。搜索引擎可能不适合这种情况。此外，计划 3表示，目前的搜索引擎 icson效率不高，对于导航系统，它可能会为组织提高效率。（ 6）未来的工作。研究结果可能并不准确，因为我们的预测研究是基于两个网站，测试时间是有限的。我们需要在更广泛的数据收集和分析的基础进行进一步的详细研究。
