Supporting Research with Weblogs: A Study on Web-based Research Support Systems JingTao Yao Department of Computer Science, University or Regina CANADA S4S 0A2

J T Yao: Weblogs2 Advances in Computer and Web Technology More opportunities –Information Availability, accessibility, flexibility More challenges –Find the right information/tools, –Learn/use the existing tools Faster changes –Keep up with the pace of the changes.

J T Yao: Weblogs3 James Kim Tragedy San Francisco Chronicle: MAPS: Internet travel directions need to be checked carefullyMAPS: Internet travel directions need to be checked carefully The Age, Australia: Faulty online mapping linked to wrong turn disasterFaulty online mapping linked to wrong turn disaster How reliable are these free online maps? –Google MapsGoogle Maps –Yahoo MapsYahoo Maps –MapQuestMapQuest

J T Yao: Weblogs4 Web-based Support Systems A multidisciplinary research that focuses on supporting various human activities in specific domains/fields based on computer science, information technology, and Web technology. Take the opportunities of the Web Meet the challenges of the Web Extend the human physical limitations of information processing Keep up with the advance of technology advances

J T Yao: Weblogs5 Computerized Support systems It is impossible to develop a fully automated computer system. More practical substitute systems –Decision support systems (DSS), –Computer aided software engineering (CASE) –Computer aided design (CAD) –Computer aided education (CAE)

J T Yao: Weblogs6 What Can We Do with the Web? Provides a distributed infrastructure for information processing. Delivers timely, secure information and tools with user friendly interface. Has no time or geographic restrictions. Results can be controlled and retrieved remotely and instantly. Collaboration: a channel for research discussion

J T Yao: Weblogs7 Two Dimensional View of WSS Technology DomainComputerWeb… Decision MakingDSSWDSS… Information RetrievalIRSSWIRSS… Science ResearchRSSWRSS… LearningLSSWLSS… Knowledge managementKMSSWKMSS… Data miningDMSSWDMSS… MedicalMSSWMSS… ………… A (a particular domain) + support systems = A support systems Web + A + support systems = Web-based A support systems

J T Yao: Weblogs8 Why the Web? The Web is used as –The basic infrastructure –The common user interface –The universal platform –The medium for delivering and providing support of human activities.

J T Yao: Weblogs9 Scientific Research in the Web Age As new technologies evolve and existing technologies expand, a scientist needs to adjust accordingly and make full use of them when carrying out research. Scientists face many challenges in using Web-based information resources, such as information overload, validation, fees, poorly designed navigation, retrieval, misinformation, and browsing tools.

J T Yao: Weblogs10 WRSS How to support scientists to meet such challenges is an important issue. Many computer systems have been implemented to support various research activities. –Meta search engines –World (spelling, grammar checking) –Citation indexes: Web of Science, Google Scholar, DBLP, CiteSeer

J T Yao: Weblogs11 The Study of Research Support Systems is Interdisciplinary Research methodologies: –Purpose of research (science), research methods, research activities, etc. Computer science –Computer systems that support various research activities. Web –As an infrastructure and a medium of support delivery, as an common user interface. WRSS integrates and extends existing computer technologies and systems to serve scientists.

J T Yao: Weblogs12 A Model of the Research Process Idea­generating phase. Problem­definition phase. Procedure­design/planning phase. Observation/experimentation phase. Data­analysis phase. Results­interpretation/explanation phase. Communication phase

J T Yao: Weblogs13 Role of WRSS Active role of WRSS: scientists play an active role in using a passive system vs. WRSS play a more active role to assist scientists. Rationality and feasibility: Research process is relatively discipline independent, which makes WRSS feasible. –Separation of general research process and discipline specific knowledge.

J T Yao: Weblogs14 Characteristics of WRSS Conceptual organization of WRSS: Sequentially according to the sequence of research phases, hierarchically based on the complexity of research activities. Personalized support. Adaptation over time. Web platform.

J T Yao: Weblogs15 Functionalities of WRSS Profile management: to collect, organize, and store all relevant information the scientists. Resource management: –Many types of resources exist for supporting research, such as human resources, tool resources, and information/knowledge resources. –The objective is to identify the suitable resource to support scientists' research needs. Data/knowledge management: to record, store and retrieve the useful data, information and knowledge during the entire research process.

J T Yao: Weblogs16 Specific Supporting Functionalities Exploring support Retrieval support Reading support Analyzing support Writing support

J T Yao: Weblogs17 Weblogs Weblog (or Blog) –A new form of mainstream personal communication. –A new voice for traditional media. –A new way for general public to express their opinion in contract traditional one-way street. –Technorati.com, a Weblog-tracking company, tracks 62.6 million blogs (Dec 12, 2006)Technorati.com 55.4 in Sept 2006, 4.2 in Oct ,000 new blogs per day, 1.6 million posts per day, or over 18 updates a second.

J T Yao: Weblogs18 Wikipedia Free online encyclopedia 1,529,503 English articles You may add, edit, comment, link entries Warning: do not use Wikipedia as a primary source.

J T Yao: Weblogs19 Using Weblog Research journal, diary, forum Keep track idea evolution Keep track contribution Easier information retrieval, hyperlinks System management –Sort/store by idea, time, author –Access level: user, group, others. –Citation management –Search

J T Yao: Weblogs20 Conclusion The research on WSS is a natural evolution of the existing research. –DSS => WDSS => WSS –DSS => Computerized SS => WSS WSS provide a potential solution for information/tool overload and the complexity of modern problems. WRSS will enhance researchers research ability. Weblog provides a new tool for research support.

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