Mashups for the Web-Active End User
Open Access
- Author:
- Zang, Nan
- Graduate Program:
- Information Sciences and Technology
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- November 06, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Mary Beth Rosson, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
- Keywords:
- web development
end-user programming
mashups - Abstract:
- Mashups are essentially combinations of APIs and online data in a single interface. However, to be able to take advantage of these systems, users must have the prerequisite programming skills to gather, manipulate, and present the data retrieved from these APIs. In order to support the less programming-savvy users, tools have been created that simplify the process and remove many of the more complex programming tasks. While attempting to be comprehensive, as with all emerging technologies, there are design flaws that exist. This work focuses on the tasks that are involved in creating mashups and specifically investigates end-user mental models as they approach this programming task. The first half of this work looks at the skill disparities between expert mashup programmers and novice end-users. I then detail the characteristics of the web-active end user, a population of end users who could take advantage of mashups but cannot because of skill barriers. Focusing on this user group, I explore the ways in which they consider online information. In doing so, I formulate a better understand of the mental models of the web-active end user and provide an informed design guide for the development of future tools.