PageLinkerIntegrating Contextual Bookmarks within a Browser

Craig KershawFrancesco Bonadiman

What is PageLinker?● Firefox web browser extension

● contextualises navigation○ by linking web pages together○ creating a network of related web pages○ showing links only on specific pages

● Paper CHI 2007 (Tabard et al.)

Who are the users?● group of 20 research biologists● worked closely for 8 years

○ repeat collections of tasks and procedures○ revisit the same set of pages○ difficult to find previously visited pages○ bookmarks hard to navigate○ recreate the initial search process○ copy and paste to transfer data

Preliminary study● videotaped interviews in lab, asking to:

○ replay with their own data their latest analysis○ search for specified information online

● used the talk-aloud protocol, asking to:○ explain their choices + what bothered them

● video-brainstorming workshop○ on organising analysis workflows

First version and evaluation● version 0.1 based on preliminary study

○ tracks copy and paste events○ automatically generates link invisibly○ “copy page” points to the “paste page”

● participatory design process○ interviews and direct observation○ 6 biologists from the Institute Pasteur

Second version and evaluation● version 0.2 explores new ways of linking:

○ new participatory design workshop○ video prototypes for scenarios

● added a link to menu to the toolbar○ list of open pages + recently visited websites

● created a reverse link

Third version ● version 0.3 simplified linking menu

○ only including last visited pages○ integrated bookmarks and linking in the sidebar

● users used sidebar instead of menu○ useful to have bookmarks visible

● this version was used in the final evaluation within the paper

Evaluation method● 3 methods considered:

○ laboratory experiment■ only measures performance advantage

○ uncontrolled field study■ difficult to control, risks privacy issues

○ limited time-series field experiment (chosen)■ optimal compromise, external validity vs control

Participants and setup● 12 biologists/bioinformaticians

○ 9 men, 3 women, between 20 - 40 years old○ working in research institutes○ using Firefox and with bookmarking experience

● PageLinker and Navtracer3

○ used their own browser, bookmarks and history○ not auto-logging information to protect privacy

■ user press start to begin logging information

Scenario design● short enough to be not too time consuming

○ 15-20 minutes

● 5 tasks representative of their usual tasks○ database search, parallel exploration (x2),

comparison, anaylsis and visual scan

● based on observations of common tasks

Procedure● ABAB procedure

○ Firefox browser + logging○ Firefox browser + logging + PageLinker

● collecting data over long periods○ once a week for 1 month

● learning effect○ repeating each condition twice○ 1 week intervals → participants forget

Procedure (continued..)● participants invited to use PageLinker

freely until they felt comfortable○ for 15 minutes

● how to use PageLinker was then explained

● … then the scenarios were presented○ the only guidance given was to remind participants

of the next task

Predictions and hypothesis● fewer pageloads and clicks generated● reduction of time spent on tasks● satisfaction with interaction and design

○ based on feedbacks from first field release○ based on personal use of the tool

Results● quantitative results

○ task completion 28% shorter○ 22% fewer clicks○ 38% fewer pages loaded

● qualitative results○ helps users re-orientate when returning to tasks○ remember tasks and their goals○ alternate links to same program on different servers

Conclusion● PageLinker 1.0 was released

○ with small modifications

● 3 month follow-up○ questionnaire, 8 responses○ 2 primary uses were reported back

■ users created chains of web pages■ creates relations between web pages

Thank you, any questions?