Effects of culture on graphical password image selection and design

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of culture on the cross-cultural design of the recognition-based graphical password (RBG-P) interface as inferred from Chinese and Saudi subjects’ image selections. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a between-group design adopted using two groups of participants from China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to measure the differences caused by the effects of cultures on graphical password image selections. Three hypotheses have been tested in a four-week long study carried out using two questionnaires and an RBG-P webtool designed for images selection. Findings The results have indicated that participants are equally biased not only toward their own culture but also depending on their opinions about other cultures. In addition, when creating the password, it has been observed that culture not only influenced the image selection to create the password but also have an effect on the sequence of the images forming the password. Research limitations/implications Appropriately used image selection differences can be used appropriately in cross-cultural designs that will lead to better development of culturally adaptive interfaces that will boost the security posture of RBG-P authentication. Practical implications Some RBG-P interfaces that are produced outside the designer’s culture may suffer the effects of cultural differences. Hence, to incorporate culture in the interface, authentication systems within applications should be flexible by designing images that fit the culture in which the software will be used. To this end, access control interface testing should also be carried out in the environmental and cultural context in which it is will be used. Originality/value This paper provides useful information for international developers who develop cross-cultural usable secure designs. In such environments, the cross-culturally designs may have significant effects on the acceptability and adoption adaptation of the interface to multi-cultural settings.

Methodology for developing an intelligent user interface for educational publications in the e-learning system

The article analyzes special features and principles of constructing the user interface and substantiates the authors methodical approach to the development of the intellectual user interface of educational publications in the e-learning system. Besides, the “user interface” concept is analyzed and types of user interfaces are considered. For representatives of each representative system, the article gives a list of typical ways of perceiving environmental information that should be considered in developing the user interface of educational publications. The main features of procedurally-oriented and object-oriented types of user interface are considered and their main parameters are presented. The implementation of an innovative component in the development interface of educational publications in the e-learning system is proposed to be implemented by adding the properties of adaptability to the user interface. Provisions are determined that define the user interface concept, on the basis of which the principles of constructing adaptive interfaces are formed. The basic principles of visual design of mental maps of electronic educational publications for the e-learning system are offered. The main features provided by the mental map are presented in the form of a visual diagram. The didactic interface of the developed e-learning edition is considered and the scheme of the user and publication interaction is given. The focus group method evaluates the user interface quality of the created e-learning publication.

E-Commerce: A Short History Follow-up on Possible Trends

The aim of this work is to think on the state-of-the-art of e-commerce and its trends for the future. E-commerce has been developing since the 1990’s and its evolution is directly linked to the advancement of information technology. Early e-commerce began with the simple dissemination of goods and services by digital means, going from the issuance of orders, then the delivery of products to achieving interaction between traders and consumers via the Internet. Some e-commerce tools enable users to perform transactions even without leaving home – with transactions ranging from purchasing to paying bills. This can be done 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. The demand for convenience and, even, privacy are the main responsible reasons for the increased use of electronic commerce by consumers. Despite the advances of e-commerce in recent times it still requires larger investment, especially regarding safety, which is appointed as major deficiency in this trade modality, along with logistics. Investments will also be necessary to enable e-commerce to keep up with the current technological advances and future development prospects, such as the adoption of virtual intelligence, the expansion of globalization with language translators, adaptive interfaces that take into account the specific characteristics of user groups and the mobile commerce, and the experimentation in 3D model.This study aims to – by means of literature review – draw a brief history of the emergence and evolution of e-commerce, also highlighting the tools in use, the trends and challenges of this modern business model.