EFFECTIVE DOCUMENTS FOR TOURIST INFORMATION SYSTEMS

This article reviews existing literature on on-line document design from the fields of human factors research and cognitive science. It goes on to offer an empirically supported set of guidelines for the design of effective on-line documents such as those used in tourist information systems. A synthesis of research results reveals that several topics are consistently found to be important to the effectiveness of on-line documents as communications devices: expectations, metaphors, consistency and coherence, performance, context, feedback, control design, and graphics. The research suggests that effective on-line documents represent a synergy between principles of good graphic design and good technical design. Towards the end of finding the proper balance, guidelines are offered for the design and layout of control elements, the use of graphics and multimedia, designing documents to maintain a "branded" look, and the consideration of users' technical limitations.