A Comparative Genre Analysis of Boutique Hotel Webpages in Thailand and New Zealand

<p>This study analyses the characteristics of boutique hotel websites in Thailand and New Zealand as a genre. The study has four main objectives: 1) to identify moves and steps of English boutique hotel websites in Thailand and New Zealand, 2) to examine visual images presented on boutique hotel websites in Thailand and New Zealand, 3) to compare and contrast the move structures and visual images of these websites, and 4) to explore contextual factors which influence the variation between move structures and the representation of visual images of these websites. Despite the increasing popularity of boutique hotels, there exists almost no research analysing these webpages as a genre. While studies have presented a general overview of the appearance and the popularity of the boutique hotel phenomenon, textual and visual analysis of boutique hotels remains under-investigated. Moreover, cross-cultural studies of hotel webpages are also limited. Bhatia’s (1993) and Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) frameworks were adopted to investigateand analyse the genre of boutique hotel webpages. Bhatia’s (1993) model was used to explore textual and ethnographic perspectives. Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) visual analysis model was adopted to examine the ways in which visual images are depicted and organised in these hotel online advertisements. In addition to textual and visual analysis, interviews with hotel owners, managers, web designers, and web audiences were conducted. The purpose of these interviews was to explore the intentions and practices influencing the shape of the design and organisation of the hotel websites as a genre. Finally, using the frameworks of Bhatia (1993) and Kress and van Leeuwen (2006), the analysis of move structures and the visual design between the hotel webpages in the Thai and New Zealand datasets were compared. This analysis shows minor variations across the two datasets in both textual and visual elements. The differences in terms of move structures between these two cultures are subtle, conforming to the same conventionality inherent within the respective genre, as it connects to their social context and functions. Consequently, my analysis opposes the notion that genre is cultural, proposed by Crossley (2007); Hyland (2000); and Mauranen (1993). In regards to register analysis, the web designers in both cultures used similar distinctive lexico-grammatical features to persuade and engage the web audiences such as the personal pronoun you and we, imperatives, adjectives. Only the use of adjectives exhibits major differences, which reflects the uniqueness in a provision of services and facilities within these two countries. This study posits that the influential factors responsible for variation between these two datasets are a result of how the websites market their hotels and how the hotels operate. However, the interview data with the hotel owners and web designers did not clearly illustrate how they establish generic conventions and develop distinctive lexico-grammatical features. My participants suggested that they used their intuition or consulted other hotel webpages, in which they share a similar theme or concept when they developing their webpages. In regards to the visual representation, the findings show that the depiction of the visual elements across the two countries generally does not differ. Rather, they seem to be reflect a homogeneous genre because they conform to the same practices. That is to say, the designs of thehotel webpages have their own integrity, in which the web designers usually follow. From a genre perspective, these similarities in terms of a representation of move structures and visual images between these two cultures are seen as either a recurring situation or reproduction of generic conventions of a particular genre, which is considered as a social action within a discourse community.</p>

A Comparative Genre Analysis of Boutique Hotel Webpages in Thailand and New Zealand

<p>This study analyses the characteristics of boutique hotel websites in Thailand and New Zealand as a genre. The study has four main objectives: 1) to identify moves and steps of English boutique hotel websites in Thailand and New Zealand, 2) to examine visual images presented on boutique hotel websites in Thailand and New Zealand, 3) to compare and contrast the move structures and visual images of these websites, and 4) to explore contextual factors which influence the variation between move structures and the representation of visual images of these websites. Despite the increasing popularity of boutique hotels, there exists almost no research analysing these webpages as a genre. While studies have presented a general overview of the appearance and the popularity of the boutique hotel phenomenon, textual and visual analysis of boutique hotels remains under-investigated. Moreover, cross-cultural studies of hotel webpages are also limited. Bhatia’s (1993) and Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) frameworks were adopted to investigateand analyse the genre of boutique hotel webpages. Bhatia’s (1993) model was used to explore textual and ethnographic perspectives. Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) visual analysis model was adopted to examine the ways in which visual images are depicted and organised in these hotel online advertisements. In addition to textual and visual analysis, interviews with hotel owners, managers, web designers, and web audiences were conducted. The purpose of these interviews was to explore the intentions and practices influencing the shape of the design and organisation of the hotel websites as a genre. Finally, using the frameworks of Bhatia (1993) and Kress and van Leeuwen (2006), the analysis of move structures and the visual design between the hotel webpages in the Thai and New Zealand datasets were compared. This analysis shows minor variations across the two datasets in both textual and visual elements. The differences in terms of move structures between these two cultures are subtle, conforming to the same conventionality inherent within the respective genre, as it connects to their social context and functions. Consequently, my analysis opposes the notion that genre is cultural, proposed by Crossley (2007); Hyland (2000); and Mauranen (1993). In regards to register analysis, the web designers in both cultures used similar distinctive lexico-grammatical features to persuade and engage the web audiences such as the personal pronoun you and we, imperatives, adjectives. Only the use of adjectives exhibits major differences, which reflects the uniqueness in a provision of services and facilities within these two countries. This study posits that the influential factors responsible for variation between these two datasets are a result of how the websites market their hotels and how the hotels operate. However, the interview data with the hotel owners and web designers did not clearly illustrate how they establish generic conventions and develop distinctive lexico-grammatical features. My participants suggested that they used their intuition or consulted other hotel webpages, in which they share a similar theme or concept when they developing their webpages. In regards to the visual representation, the findings show that the depiction of the visual elements across the two countries generally does not differ. Rather, they seem to be reflect a homogeneous genre because they conform to the same practices. That is to say, the designs of thehotel webpages have their own integrity, in which the web designers usually follow. From a genre perspective, these similarities in terms of a representation of move structures and visual images between these two cultures are seen as either a recurring situation or reproduction of generic conventions of a particular genre, which is considered as a social action within a discourse community.</p>

Towards online repurchase intention: A non-probabilistic approach to unpack its antecedents in Pécs

THE AIMS OF THE PAPER This research explores the determining factors of online repurchase of online shoppers in Hungary, focusing on Pécs. METHODOLOGY The non-probabilistic sampling technique (convenience sampling) was used to collect cross-sectional data from online shoppers in the city of Pécs. Data was collected from 412 online shoppers. In addition, SmartPLS – Structural equation modeling software was used to investigate the relationships of the hypothesized variables. MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS The research findings suggest that information quality, systems quality, and service quality significantly affect user satisfaction. Consequently, user satisfaction was found to influence consumer repurchase intention significantly. RECOMMENDATIONS The findings present some practical implications for e-vendors and online business web designers. The significant influence of system quality on user satisfaction implies that e-vendors e-commerce web designers should provide quality website features that are reliable, user-friendly, has quick response time, and are available on a 24/7 basis. Also, to ensure user satisfaction and repurchase, e-vendors must give their consumers a satisfying online experience by providing the necessary support in real-time. Disputes from online transactions should be solved as quickly as they arise to the delight of consumers.

Web designers

Explore the wonderful world of spiders and webs with the children in your setting, helping them to better understand these often-maligned creatures and to value the contribution they make to our world.

Desired Affordances of Scholarly E-Articles: Views from Scholars Based on Open-Ended Answers

E-journals are constantly evolving and adding new features, however, scholars’ views of desired features of scholarly e-articles have not received much attention. Scholars’ opinions were studied as part of two scholarly reading surveys conducted in Finland in 2016 and internationally in 2018. Respondents were asked “What features would you like to see in e-scholarly articles in the future” and “How have your reading practices changed in the last few years and how do you expect them to change”. A qualitative thematic analysis of 588 open-ended comments to these questions was performed. Themes discussed in open ended comments concern availability and accessibility; readability, searchability, findability, and discoverability; sharing and collaboration affordances; and seamlessness between reading and writing. Respondents also discussed affordances such as more visual materials, more interactivity, easier export of references, links to original research data, open commenting, open peer review, possibility to update articles, links to authors’ social media sites, and templates for secondary and meta-analysis. Users’ discussion of affordances for finding, discovering, sharing, and handling information provide insights to publishers, libraries, and web designers.

SEKOLAH TINGGI DESAIN KOMUNIKASI VISUAL DI KOTA PONTIANAK

Over the recent years, the creative economy sectors has shown rapid growth thanks to the development of digital technology in 4.0 era. Visual Communication Design is one of those sectors mentioned above. It’s proven by variant opportunities and needs of professionals in design field and similar others. However, educational facilities that organizing and producing labor in Visual Communication Design is still unavailable in Pontianak. Pontianak, Capital of West Borneo/Kalimantan which is well known as central of west kalimantan’s populations’ activites is considered as a strategic location to establish higher educational facilities for Visual Communication Design sector. Academy of Visual Communication Design in Pontianak is a tertiary education institution that organizes education in design field by providing studies related to media and communication. (especially Visual Communication Design). Throughout the education program, the academy will produce professional labors with prospects of the world of work in the field of design including: graphic designers, multimedia, visual communication, product design, illustrator, photographers, animators, web designers in Pontianak. The planning stage of the Academy using J.C. Jones model which consists of concept, data collecting, analyze, synthesize, evaluation and optimalization. Those stages aims to produce a concept to build Academy of Visual Communication Design that will able to help the development of skills and creativities of it learners in order to increase human resource qualities in Pontianak.

Website Design for Effective Digital Audience Engagement: A Conceptual Framework

The transformative power of digital technologies alters every sector of our society and provides unparalleled opportunities for value cre- ation. The challenge for today’s organizations is to communicate in ways that resonate with the digital audiences and forge meaningful interactions. Leveraging digital opportunities requires organizations to develop digital fluency and tailor an effective digital strategy. At the heart of the digital strategy is the website – the digital communication interface, the founda- tion that provides avenues for connecting with the audience. In this respect, website design has emerged as a critical issue. This paper aims to devise a conceptual framework for website design. It identifies the key aspects for achieving a successful website and equips the managers, web designers, and communicators with the knowledge of crafting an effective communi- cation platform.

'Dark Patterns': the case for regulatory pluralism

‘Dark patterns’ is a term commonly used by the web collective to describe a user interface that exploits users into doing something that they would not normally do. It is a coercive and manipulative design technique used by web designers when some sort of action is needed from a user - typically to begin the processing of personal data or indication of agreement to a contract. As dark patterns can compromise legal requirements like consent and privacy-by-design and legal principles found in both regimes, like fairness and transparency, this article analyses ‘dark patterns’ from a regulatory perspective. Two frameworks are critiqued: the European Union’s regime for data privacy and consumer protection. The paper also provides an overview of the enforcement measures available for the regulation of dark patterns. It concludes that a pluralistic approach that mixes the strengths of one regulatory regime while compensating for its weaknesses by the use of the other is needed to harness dark patterns.

INFLUENCE OF ONLINE ADVERTISING IN THE PROMOTION OF NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NPFL)

The advent of online advertising has drastically changed how football is approached and funded. No doubt, Information and Communication Technology has had huge impact on sports development across the globe and also has created new vista for sports promotion, marketing, sports followership and revenue generation. This study examines the influence of online advertising in the promotion of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). The technological determinism theory was used as theoreti-cal basis for this research work. Survey method of research was adopted with four hundred copies of questionnaire administered to respondents in four States in the North- Central zone of Nigeria namely; Niger, Kogi, Benue and FCT. It was found that the extent of online advertising usage by the League Management Company (LMC) and NPFL club sides is poor in compare to its usage by other league organizers and club sides in advanced nations. Therefore, this study recommends that the league han-dlers should, immediately, consider setting up a fully equipped social media marketing team. This should include; web designers, graphic artists, online media influencers and advert executives. The LMC should also ensure the employment of professional web designers to revamp the look-and-feel of the site. Make it more user-friendly and updated constantly. Also, the website should be fully commercialized.