Many people are now influenced by the information and advice they find on the Internet, much of it of dubious quality. This paper describes two studies concerned with those factors capable of influencing people's response to online advice. The first study is a qualitative account of a group of house-hunters attempting to find worthwhile information online. The second study describes a survey of over two and a half thousand people who had actively sought advice over the Internet. A framework for understanding trust in online advice is proposed in which first impressions are distinguished from more detailed evaluations. Good web design can influence the first process, but three key factors-source credibility, personalisation and predictability-are shown to predict whether or not people actually follow the advice given.

Many people are now influenced by the information and advice they find on the Internet, much of it of dubious quality. This article describes two studies concerned with those factors capable of influencing people's response to online advice. The first study is a qualitative account of a group of house-hunters attempting to find worthwhile information online. The second study describes a survey of more than 2,500 people who had actively sought advice over the Internet. A framework for understanding trust in online advice is proposed in which first impressions are distinguished from more detailed evaluations. Good web design can influence the first process, but three key factors-source credibility, personalization, and predictability-are shown to predict whether people actually follow the advice given.

Tools and techniques for requirements elicitation ure generally unsuitable for use with children and for innovative and futuristic developments. Using case studies, this paper explores practical methods to get requirements for future technologies from children. Techniques such as scenurio building, roleplaying and stog,boarding proved successflrl in involving children in the requirements process and stimulating innovation. The paper looks ut how these methods can be udopted to take u more jundumentul approach to requirements elicitation fijf;,r adults.These techniques help requirements engineers face the difJicult tusk of getting system requirements from users of whatever age, ability or background. They also enable requirements engineers to anticipate some of the future changes that might occur before or as a consequence of the installation of a new system. The lack of specialist notation was found to promote communication throughout the analysis and design process and gives the designers a context in which to design.

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