It appears that sex and web sites add up to more than pornography. Researchers in Wales have announced distinct differences in the needs and preferences of users according to their gender, an observation that will help designers improve the ergonomics of sites by targeting their audience more effectively.
Picked up by the popular press and featured in the online publication of Human Factors International, the research reveals that men and women have widely different thoughts on what makes a good Web site. The study also suggests businesses and universities may not be targeting viewers effectively because their web pages cater almost exclusively to men.
Gloria Moss, who conducted the research at the University of Glamorgan with colleagues Krzysztof Kubacki and Rod Gunn, talked about the implications of the findings for the e-retailing industry in an interview with United Press International in August. “There is obvious growth of the Internet as a marketing tool that can