Miloslav Hub

Usability evaluation of web-based GIS: case study

Dependency of the majority of mankind activities on information and communication technologies in general and on geographic information is increasing rapidly. This is one of the reasons why usability of specialized software tools (GIS) belongs today to the top priorities of managers and users of information technologies. This requirement concerns geographic information systems in general but it principally concerns Web-based GIS sites because spatial data and tools for their utilization are nowadays in great demand by end-users too. Web-based GIS sites can provide an easy-to-use solution to the end users but they must be properly designed. Case study evaluating usability of three different Czech Web-based GIS applications by means of questionnaire-based usability user evaluation was done. Results are discussed and some recommendations how user interface of Web-based GIS should be designed, are concluded.

Usability evaluation methods for spatial information visualisation: Case study: Evaluation of tourist maps

Many decisions are influenced by location. Geoinformation technologies together with digital data are today very often used to support spatially-oriented decisions. Another reliable way of spatial information presentation is represented by analogue maps. This contribution describes utilization of software engineering methods in cartography to evaluate and improve quality of maps. Authors have long experience with utilization of usability evaluation of Web based geographic information systems. They propose utilization of suitable methods to evaluate usability of analogue maps. Usability of analogue tourist maps of attractive areas of the Czech Republic was evaluated by means of proposed methods. Maps published by the most famous publishers in the Czech Republics, i. e. maps published by Kartografie Praha, a. s., SHOCart, spol. s r. o., Klub českých turistů o. s. and Geodézie On Line were evaluated. Usability User Testing and Heuristic Evaluation were used as methods for usability evaluation. The main results of case studies are briefly described in the paper. Results of one case study are processed by multi-criteria decision making methods. Benefits and weaknesses of used methods derived from author experience are stated in the end.

Security Evaluation of Passwords Used on Internet

This paper presents results of empirical study of passwords really used on internet. These passwords were obtained during two data acquisitions in three years period. In this paper a method for the evaluation of password security against a dictionary attack and a brute force attack is suggested and used for security evaluation of these passwords. The method is based on a mathematical model and a simulation of dictionary attack and a brute force attack. In the paper trends of password selecting are identified and expected progress is outlined. Simultaneously truly used passwords are investigated by statistic methods.

Použitelnost elektronických formulářů veřejné správy

This paper is focused on the testing and evaluating of public administration electronic forms from the usability point of view. Its objective is to design a suitable methodology for usability testing of electronic forms and their description and distribution to public administration information systems professionals. Firstly, methods of usability engineering are summarized and a suitable method for usability testing and evaluation of electronic forms is selected. Farther, the methodology of electronic forms usability testing that uses the selected method is suggested. In the last part of the paper the case study that uses the proposed methodology is suggested and performed. The main benefit of the work is the design of testing methodology and proposition of the set of recommendations for new public administration electronic forms design.