Supporting Information Needs by Ostensive Definition in an Adaptive Information Space Iain Campbell 1995 Gretchen Schwarz

Overview Current IR methods center on the query or browsing Current IR methods center on the query or browsing These do little to help represent sound, video, image These do little to help represent sound, video, image New approach centered on graphical interaction New approach centered on graphical interaction Less formal Less formal Spontaneous access Spontaneous access Reduce differences in search effectiveness among users with different levels of experience Reduce differences in search effectiveness among users with different levels of experience

Information needs Describing information needs Describing information needs Information lack motivates info need Information lack motivates info need Information is a “thing” Information is a “thing” Michael Buckland and the documentalists Michael Buckland and the documentalists Nature of information totally subjective Nature of information totally subjective Matter can be perceived as different states (particles or waves) Matter can be perceived as different states (particles or waves) Arrangements of particles/concepts can change over time Arrangements of particles/concepts can change over time There is a symbiotic relationship between the perceiver and the information need There is a symbiotic relationship between the perceiver and the information need

Information needs Example of the agent Example of the agent 1. Cognitive agent fixes an info need 2. Information flow stops – it can’t obtain a resolution without further info 3. When info flow is restored, the information is processed in two ways: 1. Evaluation – is it part of the knowledge sought? 2. Incorporation – info becomes part of agent’s knowledge base 4. Information exposure increases agent’s receptivity

Information needs Why do we build IR systems requiring precise directions to satisfy imprecise information needs? Why do we build IR systems requiring precise directions to satisfy imprecise information needs? Willingness to describe info needs… Willingness to describe info needs… Descriptive requests only happen when you Descriptive requests only happen when you can’t get the information yourself can’t get the information yourself There are costs associated with attempting to communicate There are costs associated with attempting to communicate With other humans With other humans With computers With computers

Information needs Salient features Salient features Structural qualities of information needs Structural qualities of information needs Developing Developing Multiple Multiple Tangential Tangential Operational qualities of information needs Operational qualities of information needs Embedded Embedded Threaded Threaded

Structural Framework: Developing

Structural Framework: Multiple

Structural Framework: Tangential

Operational Framework: Embedded

Operational Framework: Threaded

Current IR Systems Query-based approach Query-based approach User must be descriptive User must be descriptive Method does not support developing needs Method does not support developing needs Histories could help unravel multiple needs Histories could help unravel multiple needs Text descriptions only minimally support multi- media objects Text descriptions only minimally support multi- media objects

Current IR Systems Browse-based approach Browse-based approach Users make selections instead of descriptions Users make selections instead of descriptions Information spaces are static (I.e. lists, predetermined links) Information spaces are static (I.e. lists, predetermined links) Graphics support multiple, embedded, and threaded info needs Graphics support multiple, embedded, and threaded info needs

A Hybrid Approach Combine…. Combine…. Strength of query-based systems -- adaptive nature of the views Strength of query-based systems -- adaptive nature of the views Strength of browse-based systems -- Strength of browse-based systems -- Graphical interface supports direct interaction with information objects

Ostensive Approach OED defines ostensive definition as the explanation of a word by presenting, pointing at, or otherwise indicating one or more objects to which it applies. OED defines ostensive definition as the explanation of a word by presenting, pointing at, or otherwise indicating one or more objects to which it applies. Example: teaching children about color Example: teaching children about color (instruction without description) (instruction without description)

Ostensive Approach Supporting developing info needs Supporting developing info needs Undoing effects of early decisions Undoing effects of early decisions Remove effects of past decisions in “information time”, rather than seconds and minutes Remove effects of past decisions in “information time”, rather than seconds and minutes Relative weighting Relative weighting Contextual interpretation Contextual interpretation The view at all points of the search will contain other information objects, and views are dynamic The view at all points of the search will contain other information objects, and views are dynamic

Ostensive Model: Summary Graphic representation & links Graphic representation & links Objects can have multiple respresentations in the info space (different views) Objects can have multiple respresentations in the info space (different views) Small # of objects near object of focus can suggest likely next steps Small # of objects near object of focus can suggest likely next steps Path and ostensive definition informs the current view Path and ostensive definition informs the current view Weighting to achieve “information age” (object relevance, etc) Weighting to achieve “information age” (object relevance, etc)

Implementing the Ostensible Model Visual Thesaurus Visual Thesaurus