Developing innovative Web information systems through the use of Web data extraction technology

A Web information system (WIS) that spans across more than one industrial sector not only can offer greater wealth of information but also can allow incorporation of more innovative features. For instance, a WIS that wants to offer a wide range of services to tourists should be able to assist them on matters concerning flights, local transportation systems, hotels, banking, and entertainment, in addition to the typical information on tourism spots. Central to this is the need for Web aggregation capability to be incorporated in such a WIS and this would rely on the use of sound Web data extraction tool as the basic underlying technology. In this paper, we illustrate this idea by reporting our experience in developing a prototype Web portal that integrates information from entertainment and tourism sector, with the aim of providing a comprehensive one-stop infotainment Web site that can support a wide range of users accessing it through either fixed or mobile devices.