Performance evaluation of Italian electronic dictionaries: user’s needs and requirements

Electronic dictionaries are nowadays to be considered as distinct a nd partially autonomous tools for common users, teachers and researchers. Informati on coded in the printed edition is extraordinarily increased and strengthened by query ing functions implemented in th e electronic vers ion. Six of the major Italian human readable electronic dictionaries (ED) have been analyzed in order to observe capabilities of data extraction fr om the printed version, to es timate performance capabilities, observing advanced search features, user-friendlin ess in interface design, integration with other applications, etc. Finally, a number of characteristics have been selected that should be considered for future development, with the purpose of mee ting different user’s need s, namely portability, exportation and integration modes, additio nal structured content and documentation.