Search (81 results, page 1 of 5)

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Abstract

Presents the preliminary results of a pilot research project on disorientation in hypertextual educational systems. It explores spatial cognition's correlation with hypermedia navigation. Analyzes mental models, in order to justify their use as a basis for interface design. Introduces the notion of disorientation in a hypermedia environment. Illustrates the co-ordinates of experiments set up to verify the assumption that users need to build some form of conceptual representation of devices they are interacting with in order to understand them, and reports the results. Redefines the notions of spatial metaphor and of maps in the light of the results

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Source

Encyclopedia of library and information science. Vol.66, [=Suppl.29]

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Abstract

Browsing is an important aspect of the information-seeking activities of library users and is primarily visual. Second-generation OPACs lack the necessary visual characteristics for browsing. These characteristics may be best implemented through simulation of images of books and library shelves on the computer monitors. To mimic users' mental models of the real world may be costly, however, unless new interfaces can tap into existing sources of information. A possible solution may be found in using the information embedded in the MARC record pertaining to the physical description of a book. Public Access Catalog Extension (PACE) is designed as an alternative interface based on mental images of users and MARC records

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Abstract

Users' mental representations and cognitive strategies can have a profound influence on how they interact with computer interfaces. However, interface design for hypermedia presentation systems is rarely driven by what is known of users' mental models and strategies. Describes a novel cognitive model of comprehension of multimodal presentations for the specific application of explaining how machines work, and proposes guidelines for hypermedia design derived from this model. Includes a review of literature on comprehension from static multimodal presentations drawn from the fields of cognitive science and computational modelling. Illustrates how cognitive and computational modelling are being used to inform the design of hypermedia presentation systems about machines which includes a framework for empirical validation of the model and evaluation of hypermedia design so that both theory and design can be refined iteratively

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Abstract

A model is proposed that is motivated by the growing theoretical importance of the affective domain in information science (IS) and human-computer interaction (HCI), and the increased need for integrated models that provide an explicit account of how human mental and physiological systems dynamically interact in task performance with information systems. The ecological constructionism framework defines a social and biological information technology that is created through the dynamic intersection of technological affordances in symbiotic interaction with affective, cognitive, and sensorimotor information procedures that users creatively construct to satisfice the social practices inherent in information settings. Samples of spontaneous user discourse were mapped, demonstrating the model's suitability for charting the flow of mental procedures that users perform in interaction with information systems. The framework is shown to be compatible with the research focus in the literature on information behavior in IS and user affect in HCI. It also addresses current challenges to create more versatile architectures integrating technology, biology, and community into organic or synergic systems. The model specifies the components and dynamics of a human-computer symbiotic information environment.

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Abstract

In this paper, we report on the second part of an empirical study designed to observe how users interact with World Wide Web resources. Applying a holistic approach, the researches examine users' cognitive, affective, and physical behaviors during user-Web interaction in order to understand better the nature of information retrieval on the Web, the needs of Web users, and the problem-solving strategies Web users employ. From analyses and the participant verbalizations collected during monitored searches, the researchers developed a taxonomy of problem solving strategies. The coding scheme was developed based on a content analysis of the integrated process data. Information from triangulation follow-up with participants via anonymously completed questionnaires, the taxonomy, and analyses of search transcripts were collected to determine 1) what problems users encountered during the interaction and how users solved these problems; and 2) which problem-solving strategies Web users considered and selected for finding factual information. The focus of the coding was on the participants' cognitive, affective, and physical behaviors in response to the components of the problems encountered, which included problems of the following types: Web interfaces, users' mental models, and the Web information sources. Searching behavior and problem-solving patterns are described and interpreted within the relevant situational context and the problems users encountered are identified and analyzed. Both the problems users faced and their problem-solving approaches endeavored evidence a strong reliance on mental models of the features available on sites, the location of those features, and other interface design concepts

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Abstract

This paper describes a new OPAC system called The Book House and discusses its relevance as a solution to current OPAC developments. The Book House is an interactive, multimedia, online public access catalogue system designed to support casual and/or novice end-users in information retrieval. It runs on a Macintosh and is available on CD-ROM and disks in English and Danish (it can be purchased from Risø for $100). It comprises an interface and module for classifying and indexing fact and fiction books in the database called Book House Write. It uses icons, text and animation in the display interface in order to enhance the utility of the system for the general public. Both words and pictures can be used for searching, which makes the system suitable for all age groups. It plays on users' previous experiencees with computer games to support learning by doing something in an enjoyable way. A prerequisite for the design of The Book House was a new approach to cognitive analysis of retrieval in libraries. Based on the success of this approach, it is claimed that OPAC systems will only be really useful and widespread (1) when their domain and task characteristics allow supplementary information to be added to existing descriptions of book content in online card catalogues in order to match end-users' intentions and needs, and (2) when the user interface and routes to the databases are configured as an integrated and uniform set of displays which match the search strategies of users, as well as their mental capabilities and limitations

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Abstract

Information retrieval and exploration of work domains through databases and integrated information systems has become increasingly important in many modern work settings (as well as in libraries). The problem space of the users is defined on occasion by the dynamically changing requirements from their tasks and goals. it is argued that IR system design should be based on an analysis of the properties of the work domain, the task situation and the user characteristics. The paper describes a general framework for IR system design that has been used in the design of a library system. A special problem identified from use of the framework in domain analysis of fiction retrieval is treated in more detail: mapping the authors' domain structures to the domain structures expressed in users' needs in indexing and representation of fiction

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Abstract

Geographic maps are a well-established way of representing domain-specific knowledge in a way which integrates symbolic and pictorial representation. This paper proposes an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of how maps represent and organise knowledge, combining artificial intelligence knowledge representation theory with empirical findings and methods from cognitive psychology. Schematic maps represent knowledge in a different way than topographic or city maps; in particular, distances and directions cannot be evaluated in the same way as in topographic or city maps. However, information from different types of maps must often be combined to answer everyday questions. An inference task involving such a combination, in order to locate a train station shown in a schematic map with respect to a part of a city map, was analysed theoretically with respect to how location judgments change with assumptions about what spatial information is contained in the schematic map. The same task was investigated empirically in a study in which subjects were asked to locate a train station and to describe their thinking in a subsequent verbal report. Results indicate that subjects' judgements and verbal reports can be grouped according to the theoretical analysis

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Abstract

We describe a prototype Information Retrieval system; SENTINEL, under development at Harris Corporation's Information Systems Division. SENTINEL is a fusion of multiple information retrieval technologies, integrating n-grams, a vector space model, and a neural network training rule. One of the primary advantages of SENTINEL is its 3-dimensional visualization capability that is based fully upon the mathematical representation of information with SENTINEL. The 3-dimensional visualization capability provides users with an intuitive understanding, with relevance/query refinement techniques athat can be better utilized, resulting in higher retrieval precision

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Abstract

Considers how to build systems that more actively support collaboration. Describes a system that embodies just 1 kind of explicit support; a graphical representation of the search process that can be manipulated and discussed by users. Considers this system which leads to an analysis of designing systems to support coping behaviour by users; including the need to support both help-giving by people and recovery from the failure of intelligent agents. Discusses the idea of interfaces as notations for supporting dialogues between people

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Abstract

Proposes a method of organizing documents based on the concepts of aggregation and hierarchies and a graphical user interface to provide a more intuitive form of Boolean query. The design is based on mapping the nodes of the aggregation hierarchy to Boolean intersection operations, mapping the nodes of the generalization hierarchy Boolean intersection operations (?), and providing a concrete, graphical, manipulable representation of both these node types. A working prototype interface was constructed and evaluated experimentally using 16 subjects against a classical command-line Boolean query interface. The graphical interface produced less than one-tenth of the errors of the textual interface, on average. Significant differences in time spent specifying queries were not found. Makes observations and comments to provide guidance for designers

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Abstract

This paper describes a graphical interface for the navigation and construction of faceted thesauri that is based on formal concept analysis. Each facet of a thesaurus is represented as a mathematical lattice that is further subdivided into components. Users can graphically navigate through the Java implementation of the interface by clicking on terms that connect facets and components. Since there are many applications for thesauri in the knowledge representation field, such a graphical interface has the potential of being very useful

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Abstract

The author describes some of the challenges, decisions, and processes that affected the design and development of the search user interface for Version 2 of the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE; www.dlese.org), released July 29, 2003. The DLESE is a community-led effort funded by the National Science Foundation and is part of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL).

Date

22. 7.2006 17:48:54

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Abstract

The growth of medical, academic resources on the World Wide Web has led to much greater incentives and opportunities for nursing and medical students, researchers and practitioners to access Web resources. However, usersindividual differences and the variety of information-retrieval mechanisms provided by medical web resources may combine to reduce the benefits of this information resource. In a study designed to qualitatively analyse the interaction of such individual- and system-differences, a reliable method of representing WWW navigational data was found to be important in assisting traditional methodologies of representation and analysis. The methodology of graphically representing such navigational data, and the support such a technique may offer the qualitative analysis of user-system interactions, is thus described in detail and with reference to one specific example drawn from the data collected. Further, some preliminary findings deriving from the use of graphical and more traditional methodologies in this study are also represented

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Abstract

This article investigates a new, effective browsing approach called metabrowsing. It is an alternative for current information retrieval systems, which still face six prominent difficulties. We identify and classify the difficulties and show that the metabrowsing approach alleviates the difficulties associated with query formulation and missing domain knowledge. Metabrowsing is a high-level way of browsing through information: instead of browsing through document contents or document surrogates, the user browses through a graphical representation of the documents and their relations to the domain. The approach requires other cognitive skills from the user than what is currently required. Yet, a user evaluation in which the metabrowsing system was compared with an ordinary query-oriented system showed only some small indicatory differences in effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction. We expect that more experience with metabrowsing will result in a significantly better performance difference. Hence, our conclusion is that the development of new cognitive skills requires some time before the technologies are ready to be used.

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Date

1. 8.1996 22:08:06
15. 5.1999 14:54:29

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Date

1. 8.1996 22:08:06

Source

Computer networks and ISDN systems. 29(1997) no.8, S.1327-1342

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Abstract

Computers have become our companions in many of the activities we pursue in our life. They assist us, in particular, in searching relevant information that is needed to perform a variety of tasks, from professional usage to personal entertainment. They hold this information in a huge number of heterogeneous sources, either dedicated to a specific user community (e.g., enterprise databases) or maintained for the general public (e.g., websites and digital libraries). Whereas progress in basic information technology is nowadays capable of guaranteeing effective information management, information retrieval and dissemination has become a core issue that needs further accomplishments to achieve user satisfaction. The research communities in databases, information retrieval, information visualization, and human-computer interaction have already largely investigated these domains. However, the technical environment has so dramatically evolved in recent years, inducing a parallel and very significant evolution in user habits and expectations, that new approaches are definitely needed to meet current demand. One of the most evident and significant changes is the human-computer interaction paradigm. Traditional interactions relayed an programming to express user information requirements in formal code and an textual output to convey to users the information extracted by the system. Except for professional data-intensive application frameworks, still in the hands of computer speciahsts, we have basically moved away from this pattern both in terms of expressing information requests and conveying results. The new goal is direct interaction with the final user (the person who is looking for information and is not necessarily familiar with computer technology). The key motto to achieve this is "go visual." The well-known high bandwidth of the human-vision channel allows both recognition and understanding of large quantities of information in no more than a few seconds. Thus, for instance, if the result of an information request can be organized as a visual display, or a sequence of visual displays, the information throughput is immensely superior to the one that can be achieved using textual support. User interaction becomes an iterative query-answer game that very rapidly leads to the desired final result. Conversely, the system can provide efficient visual support for easy query formulation. Displaying a visual representation of the information space, for instance, lets users directly point at the information they are looking for, without any need to be trained into the complex syntax of current query languages. Alternatively, users can navigate in the information space, following visible paths that will lead them to the targeted items. Again, thanks to the visual support, users are able to easily understand how to formulate queries and they are likely to achieve the task more rapidly and less prone to errors than with traditional textual interaction modes.
The two facets of "going visual" are usually referred to as visual query systems, for query formulation, and information visualization, for result display. Visual Query Systems (VQSs) are defined as systems for querying databases that use a visual representation to depict the domain of interest and express related requests. VQSs provide both a language to express the queries in a visual format and a variety of functionalities to facilitate user-system interaction. As such, they are oriented toward a wide spectrum of users, especially novices who have limited computer expertise and generally ignore the inner structure of the accessed database. Information visualization, an increasingly important subdiscipline within the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), focuses an visual mechanisms designed to communicate clearly to the user the structure of information and improve an the cost of accessing large data repositories. In printed form, information visualization has included the display of numerical data (e.g., bar charts, plot charts, pie charts), combinatorial relations (e.g., drawings of graphs), and geographic data (e.g., encoded maps). In addition to these "static" displays, computer-based systems, such as the Information Visualizer and Dynamic Queries, have coupled powerful visualization techniques (e.g., 3D, animation) with near real-time interactivity (i.e., the ability of the system to respond quickly to the user's direct manipulation commands). Information visualization is tightly combined with querying capabilities in some recent database-centered approaches. More opportunities for information visualization in a database environment may be found today in data mining and data warehousing applications, which typically access large data repositories. The enormous quantity of information sources an the World-Wide Web (WWW) available to users with diverse capabilities also calls for visualization techniques. In this article, we survey the main features and main proposals for visual query systems and touch upon the visualization of results mainly discussing traditional visualization forms. A discussion of modern database visualization techniques may be found elsewhere. Many related articles by Daniel Keim are available at http://www. informatik.uni-halle.de/dbs/publications.html.