Case study on the comparison of search and
download speeds of standard and mobile interfaces
It would seem logical that the “cleaner” and simpler publisher interfaces make for quicker and easier downloads of
materials. However, we would like to check whether this assumption is true. We have designed several short
exercises to compare download times for standard and low bandwidth versions of publishers websites as well as
mobile versions and at different times of day. We have also included links to the Aptivate LoBand service that strips
down websites to reduce the incoming size of a website.
A summary and discussion of the findings will be published as an INASP case study and will be shared with
publishers to guide their future website development.
If you would be willing to assist us, could you work through the process on the following sheets, recording your
results and opinions. Please comment on any aspects you feel interesting in terms of speed, interface clarity and
functionality. I am aware that there are numerous factors which could affect download speeds, but I am hoping this
study will provide a starting point. We have created a variety of exercises for participants to undertake with feedback
via this Excel spreadsheet (see http://www.inasp.info/media/www/documents/Download-speeds-timing-sheet.xls),
online (see http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DYKHQJY) or as scanned handwritten notes. The only subscribed
resource used in this exercise is Cambridge Journals Online but you can do this exercise without a subscription.
The EBSCO resource referred to is free.
You might like to ask a colleague to do the timing while you do the searches. If it is easier you can put 1 minute 14,408
Scroll down the list to the first document with a 5 mins http://journals.cambridge.org/action/di
downloadable pdf and open the pdf
Return to your search results
Scroll down the list to the first document with the article in 15 secs http://journals.cambridge.org/action/di
HTML and open the HTML
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Comments
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4. Google
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
Go to www.google.com <5 secs
Search for Libraries in Africa 0.2 secs 14,300,000
It is likely that Book: Public Libraries in Africa – INASP
will be in the first page of your search results.
Click the link to the INASP website <1 sec
Open the PDF document 6 secs http://www.inasp.info/uploaded/docum
If this does not show in your results, chose any other
useful result
Comments
5. EBSCO
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
Go to www.libraryresearch.com. 4 secs
Search for Libraries in Africa 3 secs 104
Click to view the “Detailed record” for any document on 4 secs http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail
the first page (which will open the HTML abstract)
Comments
Type of phone (if none, please go to section 9) None available
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6. Search only - Cambridge Journals Online Mobile
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
If you have a mobile device which can access the
internet go to url below
1 sec
http://mobile.journals.cambridge.org
Search for Libraries in Africa 10 secs
Comments
7. Search only – Mobile Google
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
If you have a mobile device which can access the
internet go to url below
www.google.com/mobile
Search for Libraries in Africa
Comments
8. Search only – Mobile EBSCO
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
If you have a mobile device which can access the
internet go to url below
m.ebscohost.com
Search for Libraries in Africa
Comments
9. Aptivate’s low bandwidth interface
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
Go to http://www.loband.org/loband/main 1 sec
Comments
10. Aptivate’s low bandwidth interface and
Cambridge low bandwidth interface (CJOm)
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
In http://www.loband.org/loband/main
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Copy url below into the grey bar at the top and click Go
http://jnls.cup.org/home.do 1 sec
Search for Libraries in Africa (Note: need to click on 10 secs 50
Submit)
Do any of the items on the first page give access to full Abstract only
text?
Note: It may be that using http://www.loband.org/loband/main means IP addresses are not recognised.
Click on any interesting abstract (or full text if available) 1 sec http://www.loband.org/loband/filter/org
Comments
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11. Aptivate’s low bandwidth interface and
Cambridge standard interface (CJO)
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
In http://www.loband.org/loband/main
Copy url below into the grey bar at the top and click Go
http://journals.cambridge.org 5 secs
Search for Libraries in Africa (you need to click to submit No access
your search)
Do any of the items on the first page give access to full Yes/no
text?
Note: It may be that using http://www.loband.org/loband/main means IP addresses are not recognised.
Click on any interesting abstract (or full text if available)
Comments
12. Aptivate’s low bandwidth interface and Google
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
In http://www.loband.org/loband/main
Copy url below into the grey bar at the top and click Go
www.google.com 2 secs
Search for Libraries in Africa (you need to click to submit 0.17 secs 14,300,000
your search)
It is likely that Book: Public Libraries in Africa – INASP
will be in the first page of your search results.
Click the link to the INASP website 10 secs
Open the PDF document 2 secs http://www.inasp.info/uploaded/docum
If this does not show in your results, chose any other
useful result
Comments Needed to click on the link to ignore filtering results
13. Aptivate’s low bandwidth interface and EBSCO
Time taken to No of results Url
open/download
page
In http://www.loband.org/loband/main
Copy url below into the grey bar at the top and click Go
www.libraryresearch.com 1 sec
Search for Libraries in Africa (you need to click to submit -
your search)
Do any of the items on the first page give access to full Yes/no
text?
Click on any interesting abstract (or full text if available)
Example Page 16
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Comments System error occurred in 1 sec
Example Page 17
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http://www.inasp.info/file/0bf4173e84e076b39ba98c46a0636972/publishers-working-with-inasp.html
http://jnls.cup.org/pdftext.do?componentId=290586
http://jnls.cup.org/fulltext.do?componentId=290586&jId=AFH
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&pdftype=1&fid=290587&jid=AFH&volumeId=46&issueId=&aid=290586
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=6&fid=313030&jid=AFH&volumeId=46&issueId=&aid=290586&fulltextType=BR&fileId=S0
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http://www.inasp.info/uploaded/documents/PublicLibrariesInAfrica.pdf
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?hid=108&sid=b956c959-5aa5-4baf-b340-5dec4ad909b9%40sessionmgr112&vid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWh
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http://www.loband.org/loband/filter/org/cambridge/journals/mobile/%20/abstract.do?componentId=1981144
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http://www.inasp.info/uploaded/documents/PublicLibrariesInAfrica.pdf
ignore filtering results
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Example Page 24
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meId=46&issueId=&aid=290586
sueId=&aid=290586&fulltextType=BR&fileId=S0021853705450343
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40sessionmgr112&vid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=lxh&AN=54479263
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