User Information Requirements Research Articles

Query Recommendation for Optimizing the Search Engine Results

Search engine query have been paying awareness in current days. Since web contents develop, the importance of search engines became more essential and at the same instance user performance reduces. Query recommendation is a method to improve search results in web. This paper presents a method for mining search engine query logs to obtain fast query recommendation on a large scale. Search engines generally return long list of ranked pages, finding the important information related to a particular topic is becoming increasingly difficult and therefore, optimized search engines become one of the most popular solution available. In this work, an algorithm has been applied to recommend related queries to a query submitted by user. For this, the technology used for allowing query recommendations is query log which contains attributes like query name, clicked URL, rank, time. Then, the similarity based on keywords as well as clicked URL’s is calculated. Additionally, clusters have been obtained by combining the similarities of both keywords and clicked URL’s to perform query clustering and further the sequential order of clicked URLs in each cluster has been discovered using the modified version of an existing sequential pattern mining technique. The final by product is further optimized by re-ranking the pages using the discovered sequential patterns. The proposed system here, is based on learning from query logs that predicts user information requirements and reduces the seek time of the user within the search result list.

Benign Design in Analytical Chemistry

Analytical chemistry is targeting the specific requirements of end users, and in principle providing just enough information to make decisions and solve problems, and hopefully does it in a more environmentally friendly and economical way. From one side analytical procedures must be evaluated according to the information requirements of the end users and instruments selected in order to provide the appropriate analytical sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy. The other side is the green approach, where optimization of analytical processes is performed to provide the required information in a manner that is inherently safe, nontoxic, and environmentally benign, and with the least possible consumption of material and energy and generation of waste. In addition to the rather widespread 3R concept (reduction, replacement and recycling) in greening of separation science, it is proposed to widen it: with consideration of specific methods which are inherently environmentally friendly; with performing analysis in smaller dimensions using microsystems; obtaining necessary information with simpler methods which do not need external energy and consume minimal amounts of material; wider application of statistical and mathematical methods (chemometrics) in data processing allowing use of simpler measurement processes that avoid sample pre-treatment and shorten analysis time. These principles give wider scale to benign design in analytical chemistry, to develop instruments, which must make economical use of energy, and provide the necessary level of chemical information for making decisions.

OntoIAS: An ontology-supported information agent shell for ubiquitous services

This study focused on the development of a core component “information agent shell,” – IAS, applied in general Web systems. We also investigated problems related to the extension of the proposed component in a wide variety of application areas. The shell contains four main components: OntoCrawler, OntoExtractor, OntoClassifier, and OntoRecommender, which are responsible for information searching, information extracting, information classifying, and information representing/ranking, respectively. This system introduced Protégé and relevant APIs to construct the domain ontology and its related ontology services to support all of the operations of the shell that was called OntoIAS. Inside the shell, the proposed method further introduces the ubiquitous interface agent to explore related problems of the ontology-supported information agent shell in ubiquitous environments. The system creates an interaction diagram that both solves the congenital defect problems of mobile equipment and adequately elaborates the powerful functions of backend information systems. In this way, the system can effectively support the basic information requirements of users in ubiquitous environments. The preliminary experimental outcomes can also reveal the basic efficiencies of related sub-systems.

A Method for Assessing Spectral Image Utility

The utility of an image is an attribute that describes the ability of that image to satisfy performance requirements for a particular application. This paper establishes the context for spectral image utility by first reviewing traditional approaches to assessing panchromatic image utility and then discussing differences for spectral imagery. We define spectral image utility for the subpixel target detection application as the area under the receiver operating curve summarized across a range of target detection scenario parameters. We propose a new approach to assessing the utility of any spectral image for any target type and size and detection algorithm. Using six airborne hyperspectral images, we demonstrate the sensitivity of the assessed image utility to various target detection scenario parameters and show the flexibility of this approach as a tool to answer specific user information requirements. The results of this investigation lead to a better understanding of spectral image information vis-a-vis target detection performance and provide a step toward quantifying the ability of a spectral image to satisfy information exploitation requirements.

Addressing ontology-based question answering with collections of user queries

This paper presents QACID an ontology-based Q uestion A nswering system applied to the CI nema D omain. This system allows users to retrieve information from formal ontologies by using as input queries formulated in natural language. The original characteristic of QACID is the strategy used to fill the gap between users’ expressiveness and formal knowledge representation. This approach is based on collections of user queries and offers a simple adaptability to deal with multilingual capabilities, inter-domain portability and changes in user information requirements. All these capabilities permit developing Question Answering applications for actual users. This system has been developed and tested on the Spanish language and using an ontology modelling the cinema domain. The performance level achieved enables the use of the system in real environments.

Improving Web search using image snippets

The Web has become the largest information repository in the world; thus, effectively and efficiently searching the Web becomes a key challenge. Interactive Web search divides the search process into several rounds, and for each round the search engine interacts with the user for more knowledge of the user's information requirement. Previous research mainly uses the text information on Web pages, while little attention is paid to other modalities. This article shows that Web search performance can be significantly improved if imagery is considered in interactive Web search. Compared with text, imagery has its own advantage: the time for “reading” an image is as little as that for reading one or two words, while the information brought by an image is as much as that conveyed by a whole passage of text. In order to exploit the advantages of imagery, a novel interactive Web search framework is proposed, where image snippets are first extracted from Web pages and then provided, along with the text snippets, to the user for result presentation and relevance feedback, as well as being presented alone to the user for image suggestion. User studies show that it is more convenient for the user to identify the Web pages he or she expects and to reformulate the initial query. Further experiments demonstrate the promise of introducing multimodal techniques into the proposed interactive Web search framework.

도서관 통합서비스 모델로서의 Information Commons에 관한 연구

디지털 정보환경의 변화에 따라 이용자의 서비스요구는 다양해지고 복잡해졌다. 본 논문에서는 미국 대학 도서관을 중심으로 도입 확산되고 있는 Information Commons의 정의, 개념, 유형 등에 대한 이론적 연구를 진행하였다. Information Commons는 단순한 도서관 시설이나 공간이 아니라 디지털 정보환경에서 비롯된 이용자의 다양한 정보요구를 이행하기 위한 협력적 서비스의 제공, 인적자원의 제휴, 물리적인 공간 및 시설의 재정의가 수반된 통합적 서비스 모델이라고 할 수 있다. Information Commons의 성공적인 도입 및 구축을 위해서는 디지털 정보자원에 대한 접근, 유기적이거나 연속적인 서비스의 제공, 이용자 중심의 서비스를 제공하기 위한 자원의 통합이 선행되어야 한다. According to alternation of Digital Information Environment. users require more complicated and variable services. This study refined theoretically definition, concept, and materiality of Information Commons which is introduced and diffused throughout U.S. Universities' libraries. Information Commons is not simple facilities and spaces of library, but it is a united service model that is designed to fulfill variable information requirements of users with offering cooperative services, coalition of human resources, physical spaces, and facilities of redefinitions. In order to successful introduction and construction of Information Commons, it should be preceded that approaching digital information resources, offering continual services, and integration of resources that focus on the users.

On the representation of automation using a work domain analysis

Work domain analysis (WDA) has been applied extensively within cognitive engineering as an analytic framework for the evaluation of complex sociotechnical systems in support of design. However, the WDAs described in the literature have not explored the representation of automated system components, despite the documented problems associated with operator-automation interaction and the requirements for operator support in complex automated systems. The current research examines the application of WDA to model an example automated system – a camera – by representing the camera along with its automated components as separate systems using the abstraction hierarchy (AH). Additionally, we contrasted this modelling approach with the more typical approach of modelling automation within a cognitive work analysis (CWA) by performing a control task analysis using the decision ladder. The results of these analyses suggest that, similar to non-automated systems, considering a separate representation of an automated system within the WDA may provide useful system design guidance in terms of user support and information requirements. The comparison of the AH and the decision ladder (DL) models indicates that the models provide different information about the requirements and support different user needs: the AH provides information about specific subsystems and components of the automation that are used for control and how they support functions and purposes of the automation while the DL shows how the control tasks are achieved interleaving automated actions with those of the user. The information obtained from modelling automation with the AH is different from what would normally be obtained by performing only a control task analysis, yet is necessary for operator support.

MODELING SEMANTIC CONCEPTS AND USER PREFERENCES IN CONTENT-BASED VIDEO RETRIEVAL

In this paper, a user-centered framework is proposed for video database modeling and retrieval to provide appealing multimedia experiences on the content-based video queries. By incorporating the Hierarchical Markov Model Mediator (HMMM) mechanism, the source videos, segmented video shots, visual/audio features, semantic events, and high-level user perceptions are seamlessly integrated in a video database. With the hierarchical and stochastic design for video databases and semantic concept modeling, the proposed framework supports the retrieval for not only single events but also temporal sequences with multiple events. Additionally, an innovative method is proposed to capture the individual user's preferences by considering both the low-level features and the semantic concepts. The retrieval and ranking of video events and the temporal patterns can be updated dynamically online to satisfy individual user's interest and information requirements. Moreover, the users' feedbacks are efficiently accumulated for the offline system training process such that the overall retrieval performance can be enhanced periodically and continuously. For the evaluation of the proposed approach, a soccer video retrieval system is developed, presented, and tested to demonstrate the overall retrieval performance improvement achieved by modeling and capturing the user preferences.

An Examination of the Public Transport Information Requirements of Users

This paper focuses on the provision of public transport information in Dublin, Ireland. It examines both existing and potential methods of accessing information, with particular focus on the implementation of various intelligent transport systems applications. One of the main objectives of this paper is examining the stages a passenger goes through when deciding to undertake a public transport trip and in what form they require information at each stage. This paper defines these stages as pre-trip to destination, at-stop, onboard, and pre-trip to origin (this is the return journey). Each of these four stages is examined in this paper. A web-based survey was used to collect data on passenger preferences and describes the methods of information delivery each passenger requires at each stage. This paper primarily deals with the respondents' stated preference for public transport information and does not examine revealed preferences. The survey also details results of passengers' opinions of the different information provision formats such as call centers, mobile phones, the Internet, and paper-based methods. This paper concludes with the results of this exploratory research

User preferences, information transactions and location-based services: A study of urban pedestrian wayfinding

Though research into location-based services (LBS) is being carried out across a number of disciplines, user aspects of LBS remains a cross-cutting theme. In this paper, the research focuses on investigating the user information requirements from LBS at individual level, with emphasis on the interactive nature of information transactions between environments, individuals and mobile devices. Based on a proposed conceptual model, urban pedestrian wayfinding experiments have been implemented in an immersive virtual reality test environment. Automated and semi-automated methods of data collection have allowed an integrated picture of participant behaviour and information preferences to be constructed and analysed. The results of this study show that there are clear user preferences in information requirements in completing wayfinding tasks. However, changes in user preferences during the wayfinding tasks do occur in response to levels of confidence, different spatial layouts and the wayfinding situations individuals encounter. The outcomes indicate that the proposed conceptual interaction model and adopted implementation approach assist in understanding user behaviour and information preferences for LBS.

A Review of Research on Information Seeking Behaviour of Agricultural Scientists: International Perspectives

Information seeking behaviour is an essential component in the designing and developing of need based information centres for meeting the information requirements of users. The undertaken study is an output of doctorate research in which a comprehensive review research scanned in international context in the field of agricultural sciences. The study covers various facets related to information seeking behaviour, findings and their conceptual meanings. It includes about sixty five researches undertaken by foreign researchers in the agriculture sector. The findings of the studies are organised into various categories i.e., theories of information seeking; information needs; users characteristics; information browsing; information seeking; and information seeking behaviour. http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dbit.26.2.3677

In loco intellegentia: human factors for the future European train driver

The European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) represents a step change in technology for rail operations in Europe. It comprises track-to-train communications and intelligent on-board systems providing an unprecedented degree of support to the train driver. ERTMS is designed to improve safety, capacity and performance, as well as facilitating interoperability across the European rail network. In many ways, particularly from the human factors perspective, ERTMS has parallels with automation concepts in the aviation and automotive industries. Lessons learned from both these industries are that such a technology raises a number of human factors issues associated with train driving and operations. The interaction amongst intelligent agents throughout the system must be effectively coordinated to ensure that the strategic benefits of ERTMS are realised. This paper discusses the psychology behind some of these key issues, such as Mental Workload (MWL), interface design, user information requirements, transitions and migration and communications. Relevant experience in aviation and vehicle automation is drawn upon to give an overview of the human factors challenges facing the UK rail industry in implementing ERTMS technology. By anticipating and defining these challenges before the technology is implemented, it is hoped that a proactive and structured programme of research can be planned to meet them.

Optimal Design of Object-Oriented Databases in Automatic Information-Control Systems. I. Analysis of Problem Domains

Design of object-oriented databases for automatic information control systems is studied. A formal method of analysis and design of optimal structures for object-oriented databases is developed on the basis of sequential interconnected formalizations of user problem domains, clustering of user information and functional requirements, design and analysis of object models for user requirements and object canonical structure of databases and design of optimal logical structures for object-oriented databases. Methods of analysis of problem domains of database users and construction of effective object canonical database structures in the form of classes, objects, and their relations and satisfying principles of abstraction, encapsulation, modularity, and hierarchy are described.

An AHP-based methodology to rank critical success factors of executive information systems

For academics and practitioners concerned with computer-based information systems, one central issue is the study of critical success factors (CSF) of information systems development and implementation. Whereas several critical success factors analyses appear in the literature, most of them do not have any technical background. In this paper, we propose the use of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to set critical success factors priorities. Results suggest that technical elements are less critical than information and human factors and that an adequate knowledge of the information requirements of users is the most important critical success factors related with executive information systems (EIS).

Collaborative information synthesis

AbstractAs the quantity of scientific literature continues to soar, scientists struggle to keep up with new findings, even in narrow areas of expertise. Although advances in information retrieval have eased the task of finding relevant articles, scientists now must face the challenge of aggregating information from within the retrieved set of documents. Our study explores the user behavior and information requirements of scientists as they interact with medical literature to answer research questions. We found that although their information needs were clearly defined, they still refined the retrieval, extraction, and analysis phases of a process that we have called information synthesis. We also found that they actively collaborated throughout the process. We describe their behavior and introduce our design and progress twoards our tool METIS (Multi‐user ExTraction and Information Synthesis) that will support the collaborative information synthesis process used by public health and biomedical scientists.

A methodology for designing form-based decision support systems

Form-based decision support systems (FBDSS) are special types of information systems that use forms to present information for decision-making. Paper forms that are often used for collecting and disseminating information in offices are natural bases for eliciting user information requirements. They are particularly useful for user-oriented systems, such as executive information systems and DSS. The paper presents a methodology that uses factoring and synthesis to process knowledge involved in forms for designing FBDSS. The resulting system allows flexible creation and modification of computer-generated forms useful for decision-making. A prototype system illustrating the method is described.

Context-based navigation in the Web by means of dynamically generated guided tours

A key advantage of hypermedia systems such as the Web is that the user is able to navigate through the information space in a non-linear fashion. He can explore the interlinked documents according to his own interests and insights, instead of being confined to the rigid, linear structure of, e.g., pages in a book. A downside, however, is that this navigational freedom entails the risk of disorientation, especially in a gigantic hypertext such as the Web. This paper presents a context-based navigation paradigm for the Web and reconciles navigational freedom with a measure of linear guidance to prevent the user from becoming disoriented. For that purpose, “conventional” navigation along static links is complemented by run-time generated guided tours, which are derived dynamically from the context of a user's information requirements.

Multilevel index structure for information filtering based on user characteristic

Aimed at information overload and personalized characteristic of user information requirement, this letter presents a type of multilevel index structure and algorithm which is applied to large scale information filtering system and has better performance and stronger scalability.

Speculations on the Value of Telepresence

Synthetic environments (SE) feature computer-mediated interaction with an environment physically separate from the user. An SE allows human perceptual, cognitive, and psychomotor capabilities to be projected into distant, dangerous, or simulated environments. This article examines some aspects of application of immersive/telepresence interfaces and discusses how the new technology fits into a user-centered design approach to teleoperators and virtual environments. The central theme of an immersive/telepresence design approach is that the world may be displayed to a user as if that person were physically present in a computermediated world. However, the ability of SEs to re-create a computer-mediated world by using immersive displays does not annul the responsibility of designers to tailor interfaces to meet the task-dependant needs of users. Whether functioning in reality or a virtual reality, interfaces must satisfy user information requirements to optimize performance. It does not necessarily follow that the combination of immersive interfaces, strict reproduction of the remote world, and telepresence gives users the most efficient human-machine interface. Other aspects of human behavior, such as concentration and attentional resource allocation or situation awareness, which are not necessarily encompassed by the concept of telepresence, need to be considered in the interface design.