Title: Human-machine web interface design for electronic commerce: a review of design perspectives, objectives, dimensions, and techniques

Authors: Qingyu Zhang, Mei Cao

Addresses: Department of Economics and Decision Sciences, College of Business, Arkansas State University, Arkanasas, AR 72467, USA. Department of Information Systems, Marketing, E-commerce and Sales, College of Business Administration, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA

Abstract: Web technology is revolutionising the information transfer and delivery modes of physical products. In the field of consumer-oriented business, most online merchant-consumer interactions require direct manipulation of interface. Thus, the design of human-machine web interface is a critical factor to determining whether e-commerce can succeed in supporting and facilitating the electronic transaction in an electronic market and hierarchy. This paper reviews and pools together research on e-commerce website design in terms of design perspectives, objectives, dimensions, and techniques to help manage web technologies, to enhance service in this burgeoning high-tech industry. The paper situates and integrates different design perspectives within the broader context of user acceptance, indicating some of the relative strengths and limitations of each theory. The review and comparisons of the design perspectives, objectives, dimensions, and techniques offer a basis for user interface design guidelines and future research directions.

Keywords: electronic commerce; e-commerce; user acceptance; usability; human-computer interface; websites; internet technology; electronic business; e-business.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2003.003625

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2003 Vol.4 No.4/5/6, pp.442 - 463

Published online: 24 Sep 2003 *

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