Web Systems Design and Online Consumer Behavior [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Conclusion

Building a Web site is now feasible for the millions who browse the Internet. There are
plenty of Web authoring tools that are easy to use on the market, with more surely to be developed.
To build a satisfactory Web site, however, a designer, whether professional or amateur, must follow
basic rules of design. The important components of a successful design include navigation,
presentation, content, and interactivity. Unfortunately, most of the Web authoring tools that are
easy to use do not have design rules built in, either as part of the help function or as tutorials.
In most cases, formal training in Web design is necessary to produce a professional looking and
navigable Web site, one which conforms to established standards.

Computers and the Internet are now a pervasive and essential part of our lives: we use them
at work and at home to gather information, for entertainment and, increasingly, to do business. As
e-commerce evolves as a significant and growing segment in the economy, a successful Web site is
crucial to a firm’s success. The characteristics of a well-designed e-commerce Web site include
functionality, security, and privacy. Easy navigation, fast downloading, ease of transaction, and
ease of submitting shopping items affect consumers’ overall satisfaction with online stores.
Although there are visual and audio effects including flashing text and animations, which increase
playfulness on Web sites, designers should use such elements with caution. These Web elements can
increase page-loading time and therefore lose potential customers. E-commerce is a new shopping
channel, but the basics of good business remain unchanged: understand the intended target audience
and design the Web site accordingly. Finally, the Internet faces the challenges created by an
unregulated environment. In the spirit of its origins, some argue that it should remain
unregulated. Others, concerned about invasions of privacy, loss of copyright protection and
intrusive advertising feel that rules and regulations are needed to ensure the healthy development
of the Internet.