A comparative review of common user interface products

• Published in: Library Hi Tech Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 182 - 197
• Main Authors: Dorner, Daniel G., Curtis, AnneMarie
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 01.06.2004; Emerald
• Subjects: Common user interface; Communication; Computerized bibliographic records; Design; Exact sciences and technology; Information and communication sciences; Information industry; Information retrieval systems. Information and document management system; Information science. Documentation; Interfaces. Software; Internet; Librarians; Library collections; Library portals; Online cataloguing; Portals; Sciences and techniques of general use; Search strategies; Software; Software evaluation; Software reviews; User interface; Vocabularies & taxonomies; Common user interface; Library portals; Software evaluation; Performance evaluation; Multiple; Sales personnel; Library management; Information industry; Functionality; User interface; Database; Information gateway; Integrated system; Software; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0737-8831; 2054-166X
• DOI: 10.1108/07378830410543502

A common user interface replaces the multiple interfaces found among individual electronic library resources, reducing the time and effort spent by the user in both searching and learning to use a range of databases. Although the primary function of a common user interface is to simplify the search process, such products can be holistic solutions designed to address requirements other than searching, such as user authentication and site branding. This review provides a detailed summary of software currently on the market. The products reviewed were EnCompass, MetaLib, Find-It-All OneSearch, ZPORTAL, CPORTAL, InfoTrac Total Access, MetaFind, MuseSearch, SiteSearch, Single Search, Chameleon Gateway, and WebFeat.