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.

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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.

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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

: We built two Information Retrieval systems that were targeted for the TREC-6 "aspect oriented" retrieval track. The systems were built to test the usefulness of different visualizations in an interactive IR setting--in particular, an "aspect window" for the chosen task, and a 3-D visualization of document inter-relationships. We studied 24 users of the system and report the usage of different user interface elements, whether experienced users outperformed novices, and whether spatial reasoning ability was a good predictor of effective use of 3-D. Much if not most usage of Information Retrieval (IR) is in an interactive setting, where an individual must use an IR system to obtain information that they need. But historically, most IR evaluations are based on comparing batch mode runs of IR systems on fixed corpora and measuring precision (the percentage of documents that are retrieved that are relevant) and recall (the percentage of relevant documents that are retrieved). IR systems were expensive and used primarily by trained professionals for a very specific task. With the explosion of information available, information retrieval, exploration and organization are becoming tasks that users of very diverse backgrounds are required to perform.

/pdf/evaluating-a-visual-information-retrieval-interface-20a7fl3iz5.pdf

Evaluating a Visual Information Retrieval Interface: AspInquery at TREC-6

User Interfaces in Music-Notation Systems

(2010). Infinite Bottles of Beer: A Cantorial Approach to Cantorian Arithmetic and other Mathematical Melodies. Math Horizons: Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 16-17.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.4169/194762110x524657

Infinite Bottles of Beer: A Cantorial Approach to Cantorian Arithmetic and other Mathematical Melodies

Blends and the Digital Pianos

: We present an evaluation of an information retrieval system designed for the 1997 TREC-6 Interactive Track; that is, Aspect Oriented Retrieval, or finding documents that cover all aspects of relevance to a given topic Our system includes a basic search system, a task-specific "aspect window", and a 3-D visualization of document and aspect relationships We compare two versions of our system against ZPRISE, a baseline system provided by NIST A study of 20 searchers shows significant differences between two classes of searchers, and supports several hypotheses about the design of an aspect oriented system An interesting result is a likely correlation between structural visualization ability and facility with a 3-D visualization

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Donald Byrd

Papers

Evaluating a Visual Information Retrieval Interface: AspInquery at TREC-6

User Interfaces in Music-Notation Systems

Infinite Bottles of Beer: A Cantorial Approach to Cantorian Arithmetic and other Mathematical Melodies

Blends and the Digital Pianos

Evaluating a Task-Specific Information Retrieval Interface