Classic IR (information retrieval) is inherently predicated on users searching for information, the so-called "information need". But the need behind a web search is often not informational -- it might be navigational (give me the url of the site I want to reach) or transactional (show me sites where I can perform a certain transaction, e.g. shop, download a file, or find a map). We explore this taxonomy of web searches and discuss how global search engines evolved to deal with web-specific needs.

/pdf/a-taxonomy-of-web-search-1c1wfauugs.pdf

A taxonomy of web search

1. Introduction to text mining 2. Core text mining operations 3. Text mining preprocessing techniques 4. Categorization 5. Clustering 6. Information extraction 7. Probabilistic models for Information extraction 8. Preprocessing applications using probabilistic and hybrid approaches 9. Presentation-layer considerations for browsing and query refinement 10. Visualization approaches 11. Link analysis 12. Text mining applications Appendix Bibliography.

/pdf/the-text-mining-handbook-advanced-approaches-in-analyzing-ge55wa29fm.pdf

The Text Mining Handbook: Advanced Approaches in Analyzing Unstructured Data

There are currently two dominant interface types for searching and browsing large image collections: keyword-based search, and searching by overall similarity to sample images. We present an alternative based on enabling users to navigate along conceptual dimensions that describe the images. The interface makes use of hierarchical faceted metadata and dynamically generated query previews. A usability study, in which 32 art history students explored a collection of 35,000 fine arts images, compares this approach to a standard image search interface. Despite the unfamiliarity and power of the interface (attributes that often lead to rejection of new search interfaces), the study results show that 90% of the participants preferred the metadata approach overall, 97% said that it helped them learn more about the collection, 75% found it more flexible, and 72% found it easier to use than a standard baseline system. These results indicate that a category-based approach is a successful way to provide access to image collections.

/pdf/faceted-metadata-for-image-search-and-browsing-3r38n0m521.pdf

Faceted metadata for image search and browsing

KEY BENEFIT: Written by a leader in the field of information retrieval, this text provides the background and tools needed to evaluate, compare and modify search engines. KEY TOPICS: Coverage of the underlying IR and mathematical models reinforce key concepts. Numerous programming exercises make extensive use of Galago, a Java-based open source search engine. MARKET: A valuable tool for search engine and information retrieval professionals.

Search Engines: Information Retrieval in Practice

As information becomes more ubiquitous and the demands that searchers have on search systems grow, there is a need to support search behaviors beyond simple lookup. Information seeking is the process or activity of attempting to obtain information in both human and technological contexts. Exploratory search describes an information-seeking problem context that is open-ended, persistent, and multifaceted, and information-seeking processes that are opportunistic, iterative, and multitactical. Exploratory searchers aim to solve complex problems and develop enhanced mental capacities. Exploratory search systems support this through symbiotic human-machine relationships that provide guidance in exploring unfamiliar information landscapes. Exploratory search has gained prominence in recent years. There is an increased interest from the information retrieval, information science, and human-computer interaction communities in moving beyond the traditional turn-taking interaction model support d by major Web search engines, and toward support for human intelligence amplification and information use. In this lecture, we introduce exploratory search, relate it to relevant extant research, outline the features of exploratory search systems, discuss the evaluation of these systems, and suggest some future directions for supporting exploratory search. Exploratory search is a new frontier in the search domain and is becoming increasingly important in shaping our future world. Table of Contents: Introduction / Defining Exploratory Search / Related Work / Features of Exploratory Search Systems / Evaluation of Exploratory Search Systems / Future Directions and concluding Remarks

Exploratory Search:Beyond the Query-Response Paradigm

Almost all work on music information retrieval to date has concentrate d on music in the audio and event (normally MIDI) domains. However, music in the form of notation, especially Conventional Music Notation (CMN), is of much interest to musically-trained persons, both amateurs and professionals, and searching CMN has great value for digital music libraries. One obvious reason little has been done on music retrieval in CMN form is the overwhelming complexity of CMN, which requires a very substantial investment in programming before one can even begin studying music IR. This paper reports on work adding music-retrieval capabilities to Nightingale©, an existing professional-level music-notation editor.

/pdf/music-notation-searching-and-digital-libraries-4ybffdw6wv.pdf

Music-notation searching and digital libraries

A Music Representation Requirement Specification for Academia

SOME SEVENTEEN YEARS have passed since Lejaren Hiller' and others made the first efforts at composing music with a digital computer. Hiller's work in the middle and late 1950s was an experiment as shown even by the title of his book rather than an attempt to create music of aesthetic value. Since then work of considerable aesthetic as well as theoretical importance has been done by several composers, most notably lannis Xenakis.2 But one problem has severely hampered almost all work in the area so far: outputting the computer's results in a useful form. What constitutes a useful form depends on the method used to realize the work in sound: 1. direct realization by a digital-to-analog converter, 2. performance on synthesizers and other electro-acoustic instruments, or 3. performance on (more-or-less) conventional instruments.

A system for music printing by computer

Traditional library catalog systems have been extremely effective in providing access to collections of books, films, and other material. However, they have many limitations when it comes to finding musical information, which has significantly different, and in many ways more complex, structure. The Variations2 search system is an alternative system, designed specifically to aid users in searching for music. It leverages a rich set of bibliographic data records, expressing relationships between creators of music and their creations. These records enable musicians to search for music using familiar terms and relationships, rather than trying to decipher the methods libraries typically use to organize musical items. This paper describes the design and implementation of the system that makes these searches possible.

The Anatomy of a Bibliographic Search System for Music.

The high-speed digital computer has provided the musician with a powerful tool for music research. In information retrieval, analysis, digital sound synthesis, and music printing, studies have clearly demonstrated the computer's potential for assisting the musician.' At the same time, however, the difficulty of preparing music data for computer processing has been, and continues to be, a major deterrent to large-scale computer-aided music studies. At present, notwithstanding several experiments in which special optical devices have been used in the encoding process,2 the only generally available device for converting music scores to computer-usable code is the keypunch machine. But the keypunch is an awkward device for encoding music: its character set is not compatible with music symbols; it is tedious to use; and proofreading of encoded materials is cumbersome and timeconsuming, even for those whose computer installations provide on-line text editing. As an alternative to both optical encoding, which is highly desirable but developed for only the simplest encoding tasks, and the keypunch machine, which is available but generally unappealing to the musician, we are developing an encoding system at Indiana University that consists of two independent but related encoding devices: a sonic digitizer and an organ keyboard, both attached to the computer, which permit the operator to enter data directly from the score for automatic conversion into computer-usable code without initmate knowledge of the code itself or the cumbersome proofreading normally associated with keypunching. Once data are encoded, the programs output the code into standard card-image format for storage on magnetic tape. This feature allows a tape to be processed at any computer installation capable of handling magnetic tape. For portability, all programs are written in ANSI standard FORTRAN to allow operation on any computer with a FORTRAN compiler and appropriate encoding devices and display equipment. The encoding language, the MUSTRAN code originated by Jerome Wenker,3 was chosen for several reasons. First, MUSTRAN is a largely mnemonic code and is relatively complete. Second, it has an operational translator and syntax analyzer that we have running on our CDC 6600 computer on campus. (Versions are also available for IBM and UNIVAC machines.) Third, Wenker having recently updated his language and its associated translator and syntax analyzer (called MUSTRAN II), the language is maintained and current. And fourth, our Computer Music System (discussed briefly below) uses MUSTRAN for encoding, music printing, and analysis. At the same time, however, we realize that the DARMS (Ford-Columbia) language is also carefully designed. It recently has been written in canonical form4 and will no doubt eventually have its own translator and syntax analyzer. Since DARMS is a complete language, and in view of the current efforts being made in its behalf, we are now developing DARMS-toMUSTRAN and MUSTRAN-to-DARMS conve sion packages that will eventually allow us to encode in one language and conveniently convert

Donald Byrd

Papers

Music-notation searching and digital libraries

A Music Representation Requirement Specification for Academia

A system for music printing by computer

The Anatomy of a Bibliographic Search System for Music.

A System for Interactive Encoding of Music Scores Under Computer Control