The document outlines four main user states for a proposed Brill eBook platform: Finding, Researching, Reading, and Using. It then provides 3 or fewer user requirements for each state to establish what users need the interface to do at each step of their journey. The purpose is to focus interface design and form a foundation for developing use cases without directly specifying requirements.

1. Brill User Pathways Table of Contents
p2: The 4 User States
p3: Finding
p5: Researching
Introduction
This document will explore the journey taken by users of the proposed Brill eBook p7: Reading
platform.
p8: Using
The purpose of this activity is to establish what the users need the interface to do
and identify how to focus interface design activities.
It might form the foundation for developing Use Cases on which the eBook plaftorm
can be specified. It does not attempt to specify any requirements directly.
The pathways described in this document will be mapped against the potential of
the eBook platform within the constraints of the project. There are many ways to
satisfy user needs, and the next piece of the Information Architecture will decide
how to address these needs most effectively within those constraints.
In this regard, the diagrams are necessarily high-level and conceptual. Try to
imagine you are a user when following them. Any ideas they create about the
interface requirements should be fed back to us, but in order to proceed, we need
you to verify that these are the ways that users will wish to use the site.
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2. The 4 User States
The 4 User States Users who visit the Brill eBook site can be
conceived in four different states:
Finding
Users are looking for a specific attribute (e.g.
an author, topic or book).
Finding Researching
Researching
Users are looking to see what information the
site can offer on a topic or field of interest.
I want to find Reading
I want to know Users are focused on a single resource and
this about [topic] are trying to consume the information it
provides.
Using
Users are trying to employ a found resource,
for example saving, emailing, printing.
Reading Using
I want to read I want to use
this book / the content I
entry have found
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3. Finding
Finding Users are looking for a specific attribute (e.g.
an author, topic or book).
F1 - The search box should be in a standard
format, placed in an easy to find and
User requirements consistent location - including the home
page.
F1 - I can locate a search box F2 - If a user is a regular user, they should be
Brill eBooks
F2 - I can log in if I want site Home
Log able to log in at once. Log in status and
I want to find in controls should be shown in a consistent
page
location on every page.
this F3 - The search box should enable the user
to search directly for eBooks by Title,
ISBN, main author, chapter author,
F3 - I can search on ... (see F3 editor, publication date, keyword,
type search
in side box) collection (Please confirm the available
data).
F4 - The results list should visually indicate
F4 - I can see the results I'm (as most prominent) the results that the
Find resource
subscribed to user has access to. If the user is not
in Search
F5 - The exact match for my results page logged in, it will indicate that they are
search term is very near the required to log in to view the result.
top
Log
F6 - I can log in if I want in
F7 - I can click on a link and
go straight to a pdf Use results Read pdf or
F8 - I can use the page of page entry
results I have found
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4. Finding (continued)
Finding (continued)
F5 - If a result exactly matches the search
term (e.g. a title) then that result should
be first or very near the top of the search
results list.
F6 - The user can choose to log in when they
User requirements access a result, if they have not already
F1 - I can locate a search box done so.
Brill eBooks F7 - Links in the search results should, where
F2 - I can log in if I want site Home
Log
I want to find in applicable, direct the user straight to the
page host url for the pdf content. Results that
link to pdf content should be visually
this indicated on the list. See 'Reading'
below for description of user
F3 - I can search on ... (see F3 requirements in this state.
type search
in side box) F8 - See 'Using' below user requirements in
this state.
F4 - I can see the results I'm
Find in
subscribed to Search
F5 - The exact match for my results page
search term is very near the
top
Log
F6 - I can log in if I want in
F7 - I can click on a link and
go straight to a pdf Use results Read pdf or
F8 - I can use the page of page entry
results I have found
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5. Researching
Researching R1 - The home page should describe the
available content (e.g. x number of
eBooks)
R2 - If a user is a regular user, they should be
able to log in at once. Log in status and
User requirements controls should be shown in a consistent
Brill eBooks location on every page.
R1 - I can see what is available Log
site Home in R3 - The home page should show the
R2 - I can log in if I want to page methods of browsing the content (e.g.
I want to know by date, collection, author, subject) and
about [topic] enable the user to see something of the
Explore: content available under them. This could
R3 - I can see what content is • subject be text description or links to selected
available quickly and in • collection content.
different ways • author Explore in
R4 - Each browse method should have its
R4 - I can go to another page • date own page so that users can see full and
more detail
navigable lists of available content (e.g.
and explore content in more A-Z or authors, time line of dates,
detail subject groups).
R5 - When a user selects a browse method
Apply attribute (e.g. Author name or Subject
R5 - I can see all the content filters to Search category) then they should be shown a
based on my selection results list results page list of all the resources available that
R6 - I can narrow my selection Log match that criteria - i.e. they will execute
to find fewer results in a search with the criteria.
R6 - The results page should present controls
to modify the result (filter) by further
criteria available in the data. These
R7 - I can use the page of should be consistent with other areas of
results Use results Read pdf or the site.
R8 - I can click on a link and page entry .
go straight to a pdf
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6. Researching (continued)
Researching (continued) R7 - See 'Using' below for user requirements in
this state.
R8 - Links in the search results should, where
applicable, direct the user straight to the
host url for the pdf content. Results that
link to pdf content should be visually
User requirements indicated on the list. See 'Reading' below
Brill eBooks
I want to know R1 - I can see what is available Log for description of user requirements in
site Home in
about [topic] R2 - I can log in if I want to this state.
page
Explore:
R3 - I can see what content is • subject
available quickly and in • collection
different ways • author Explore in
more detail
R4 - I can go to another page • date
(page)
and explore content in more
detail
Apply
R5 - I can see all the content filters to Find in
based on my selection results list Search
results page
R6 - I can narrow my selection Log
to find fewer results in
R7 - I can use the page of
results Use results Read pdf or
R8 - I can click on a link and page entry
go straight to a pdf
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7. Reading
Reading Re1 - The user needs to quickly understand
the context, the main topic, the available
sections, the scope, and the purpose of
the resource.
User requirements Re2 - The content should be displayed to
Search result support users scanning (e.g. headings
external link visually distinct and closer to their sub
I want to read text).
this book / Re3 - The text should be displayed in a way
entry that supports reading on line and other
Re1 - I can see quickly what I page elements should be kept to a
am reading minimum.
Re2 - I can easily find the Re4 - Interruption to the flow of text should be
section I want to read minimised when pagination is necessary
Entry page eBook (e.g by placing controls in intuitive
Re3 - I can read the words locations, not requiring the user to 'back
easily on the screen, without up' and re-navigate).
distraction Re5 - Links to related content should be
located close to the content to which
Re4 - I can easily navigate they refer.
through paged content with Re6 - Links to explore more content (e.g.
minimal disruption to the flow of search for all books by this author)
Explore should be available and intuitive.
content
similar Re7 - Tools to use the content should be
Use pdf or
Re5 - I can access any related resources
entry group clearly located etc.
content links without losing my
place
Re6 - I can explore similar Research
resources based on
Re7 - I can use the content I topic
have found
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8. Using
Using Note: There is no personalisation on the Brill
eBooks site.
U1 - The search results page should not
User requirements prevent users from performing browser
Search or 3rd party actions.
U1 - I can use a search results U2 - The entry or pdf page should not prevent
results
page users from performing browser or 3rd
I want to use party actions.
the content I U3 - Users should be able to paste urls into
have found U2 - I can use an entry or pdf emails that will allow them to go directly
Entry or to the same page later.
eBook U4 - Print functions of browsers should be
supported by the pages.
U5 - The pages should not prevent browsers
or other 3rd party tools from
U3 - I can email this page bookmarking the page.
email U6 - The user's activity within the site should
not be interrupted by performing browser
or 3rd party actions of this kind.
U4 - I can print the content of print
this page
U5 - I can book mark this page book
in my browser mark
U6 - I can continue with my task
continue with
task
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