Cognetics - Portfolio - Congressional Information Service's Congressional Compass

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Congressional Information Service

Congressional Compass is a web-based research service providing universities and other instututions with access to:

Congressional Information Service
Lexis-Nexis databases of congressional documents and member information.

The design challenge was to create an interface which would help students find information from a complex domain while learning how to research congressional information.

Unlike the experienced researchers who use Lexis-Nexis, Congressional Compass is used in educational libraries where students are the primary users. Not only did the interface need to be simple, it was important that it also help the students learn about the material available and how to research congressional information.

Congressional Compass

Congressional Compass home page

Fact Sheet

Web-based search interface to over 60 Lexis-Nexis databases
Interface design used for a series of related products

One of first problems which had to be solved was how to organize over fifty different search screens. The research articles are organized into many different databases, and the technical architecture required that a search be directed at specific databases. The CIS staff used card-sorting exercises and other low-impact usability techniques to learn how librarians and users approached this materal. Once the search groups had been established, the navigation was designed. The site structure was very shallow, with only two screens between the home page and a list of documents. From any search menu or search screen, the users can jump to any of the other search menus, a site map, or background information about congressional documents and research.

The visual design was kept deliberately simple, both to ensure that users were not annoyed by long downloads and delays and to avoid distracting them from their work. Congressional Compass was the first of a series of Compass services, which all use the same basic design.

Interface Details

Congressional Compass Search Menu (screen) The search options were divided into five main groups, and presented on individual pages. The links to the search screens were crafted to be as specific as possible and help users find the correct screen on the first try.

Congressional Compass Search Interface (screen) The search screens were designed to help users formulate a complex search without learning the Lexis-Nexis syntax. Informational text around the fields provides an indication of what kinds of documents the search will retrieve as well as hints to help users complete the form.

Congressional Compass Search Interface (screen) The visual design used simple graphics which did not interfere with the work areas. Color coding was used to identify groups of search screens - for example, all searches of the text of bills, laws and regulations used a green banner and side-bar.

Congressional Compass Site Map (screen) The Site Map includes links to each of the search screens. It acts as an overview and quick access guide to the site. Librarians who used the service frequently liked this feature.