Interview Aleks

19 Nov 2019

Non-expert

Aleks is an academic and social scientist and uses a browser non-stop for accessing and working on data for research and administration.

Key findings

• Uses bookmarks especially for links that look long or convoluted and doesn’t understand what they do
• Never looks for the padlock icon and generally doesn’t have any trust issues with URLs or the address bar, especially if the domain is from a trusted company or organisation. However, he is warned constantly by his university about links and internet safety
• Has an understanding of nesting files and folders with websites and addresses
• Doesn’t necessarily know or understand what P2P is

Interview notes

• Use the browser for search of info and accessing data for research and administration
• Working directly on browser on docs and marking (papers)
• Watches videos so it’s entertainment as well
• Used to use Firefox but uses Chrome now as it seems faster and smoother somehow
• Doesn’t use Explorer though his uni would like him to
• Generally uses search engines by academic publishers, as well as Google Scholar, but quicker if use specific site which is quicker than Google
• Type in URLs and remember where been and quick auto-complete
• Bookmarks things but generally for links that look convoluted with long and random lettering and can’t remember
• Addresses want to say that they are pathways to subfolders? Nested pages? Like skipping directly to where
• Aware of URLs when in browser, familiar with same sites over and over again
• Like when the name (of the company) is embedded in the address and would notice this
• If there is a series of numbers in the address then would not register it
• Pays attention to prominent domain and associate to broader website with a longer one
• When using the uni websites the name always comes up with the logo but doesn’t think it’s important and not concerned if the uni name wasn’t in the address
• Doesn’t really have any trust with URLs
• Once in a bonafide site then after stop paying attention
• Can provide info on security, the icon appears before the URL to be wary of providing info on the companies
• Never really looks out for the padlock but if pops up then pays attention
• Another user could get info on what I’m inputting if it’s insecure and could hack into the drive or computer
• Sends links with copy and paste and emailing it, and on mobile just shares it in the app
• When he’s sent links he pays attention but just because its there in front of him, but the uni gives warning about clicking links all the time
• Would actually know if was somewhere that shouldn’t be unless it seems obvious
• P2P is when two people interact through the same machine? Is this like Remote Desktop?
• Can contact in the future for further questions