1. Web-based Support Systems JingTao Yao Department of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science, University of Regina Regina CANADA S4S 0A2 jtyao@cs.uregina.ca http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao

2. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems2 Web-based Support Systems (WSS) An emerging multidisciplinary research area that studies the support of human activities with the Web as the common platform, medium and interface. One of the goals of building WSS is to extend the human physical limitation of information processing in the information age.

3. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems3 WSS & WI Moving support systems online is an increasing trend in Web Intelligence research. WSS are a multidisciplinary research: the supported field, computer science, information technology, and Web technology.

4. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems4 Advances in Science and Technology More data/information More tools More difficult problems More complex tasks More demands for quality and productivity …….

5. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems5 Advances in Computer and Web Technology More opportunities –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.

6. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems6 Why WSS? To take the opportunities of the Web. To meet the challenges of the Web. To extend the human physical limitations of information processing. To overcome many limitations that computerized support systems suffered from. To keep up with the advance of technology advances.

7. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems7 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)

8. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems8 Strengths of the Web Distributed infrastructure for information processing and communication. Delivers timely information and tools. Standardized user interface framework (HTML, CSS, XML). No geographical restrictions. Secure transmission of sensitive data. Potential to reach a much larger user base.

9. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems9 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 various human activities.

10. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems10 Transition to the Web A represents a particular domain. A + computerized support system –A support systems. –A = medical domain Medical Support Systems. Web technology + A + computerized support system –Web-based A support systems. –A = scientific research Web-based Research Support Systems.

11. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems11 Two Dimensional View of WSS WSS may be viewed as extensions of existing studies in two dimensions –Application dimension From decision support to other types of support systems (e.g., data mining support, retrieval support, reading support, etc.). –Technology dimension From old technology based to new technology based systems.

12. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems12 Two Dimensional View of WSS Technology DomainComputerWeb… Decision MakingDSSWDSS… Information RetrievalIRSSWIRSS… Science ResearchRSSWRSS… LearningLSSWLSS… Knowledge management KMSSWKMSS… Data miningDMSSWDMSS… MedicalMSSWMSS… …………

13. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems13 Goals of WSS Research Combining the isolated research efforts on various support systems. Integrating the diverse general or specific computerized systems. Extract the commonality to form a new and separate sub-field of study. Applying existing approaches and developing new theories and approaches for WSS.

14. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems14 WSS Workshops 2003, JingTao Yao and Pawan Lingras co-organized the 1 st International Workshop on Web-based Support System – http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~wss/wss03/http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~wss/wss03/ 2004, JingTao Yao, Vijay Raghavan, and Guoyin Wang co-organized the 2 nd International Workshop on Web- based Support System – http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~wss/wss04/http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~wss/wss04/ 2006, JingTao Yao, Kanliang co-organized the 3 rd International Workshop on Web-based Support System – http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~wss/wss06/http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~wss/wss06/

15. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems15 WSS Proceedings

16. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems16 A General Architecture of WSS Larger user base Standardized UI Information technology Domain dependent / independent information Web technology Larger user base Web technology Information technology Standardized UI

17. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems17 WSS Research Generalize WSS concepts, characteristics of various support system. Study of domain independent theories, models, and techniques of WSS as a separate field on its own. Study of concrete models of WSS specific domains, such as decision support, research support, retrieval support. Design and implementation of variable WSS.

18. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems18 WSS Directions Support systems (semi-automatic, interactive) may be more valuable than fully automatic systems, particularly in domains with unstructured problems. Users/experts play an active role in using support systems. Support systems are a new type of tools that help human to perform various task. Support systems will extend the capacity of human, instead of replace them.

19. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems19 Research on WSS Operations & logic –Understand the needs of WSS –Domain specific –Domain independent Support facilities –What can CS/IT/Web offer –Domain specific –Domain independent

20. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems20 Basic issues of WSS Supporting domain independent activities –Reading –Writing –Presentation –Communication –…… Support domain dependent activities –Decision analysis –Strategic decision making –Risk analysis –……

21. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems21 Need Intelligent Support: A Negative Example James Kim’s Tragedy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim –San Francisco Chronicle: MAPS: Internet travel directions need to be checked carefully (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/07/MAPS.TMP)http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/07/MAPS.TMP –The Age, Australia: Faulty online mapping linked to wrong turn disaster (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/12/08/1165081119464.html)http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/12/08/1165081119464.html –How reliable are these FREE online maps? Google Maps, Google MapsGoogle Maps Yahoo Maps, Yahoo MapsYahoo Maps MapQuest, MapQuestMapQuest

22. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems22 Web-based Research Support Systems A specific type of WSS The general ideas of WSS apply to WRSS It is an example to demonstrate the usefulness of the study of WSS. Three Types of WRSS –Support individual researchers –Support research management –Support research collaborations

23. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems23 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, misinformation, fees, poorly designed navigation, retrieval, and browsing tools.

24. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems24 Interdisciplinary Nature Research Support Systems 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.

25. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems25 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 –MS Word (spelling, grammar checking) –Citation indexes: Web of Science, Google Scholar, DBLP, CiteSeer, Scopus

26. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems26 A Model of the Research Process Idea­generating phase. Problem­definition phase. Procedure­design/planning phase. Observation/experimentation phase. Data­analysis phase. Results­interpretation/explanation phase. Communication phase

27. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems27 Role of WRSS Active role of WRSS: scientists play an active role in using a passive system vs. WRSS also plays a active role to assist scientists. –Search results alert –MS Word auto-correction feature Rationality and feasibility: research process is relatively discipline independent, which makes WRSS feasible. –Separation of general research process and discipline specific knowledge.

28. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems28 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.

29. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems29 Functionalities of WRSS Profile management: to collect, organize, and store all relevant information of 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.

30. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems30 Specific Supporting Functionalities Exploring support Retrieval support Reading support Analyzing support Writing support

31. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems31 Web of Science Reference Search

32. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems32 Cited Reference Searching - Benefits Allows you to move forward and backward in time, discovering relationships between published works as determined by the articles authors -Find new, unknown information based on older, known information -Track use of your research or a competitor’s research -Backward through “Cited References” Uses cited references as subject terms Explore hidden connections between research papers.

33. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems33 Cited Reference Searching Traditional search 1982 paper 1957 paper 1996 paper 1982 paper 1996 paper 1957 paper 1987 paper 2004 paper 2003 paper 1993 paper Cited reference search

34. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems34 Cited Reference Search

35. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems35 Cited Reference Look-up table Cited references that are in BLUE are links to source records. Citations to items not indexed in Web of Science (Books, Art, etc) and Cited Reference Variants are in black text.

36. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems36 Times Cited

37. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems37 Cited Reference Search / Results As these records cite Anand’s work, they are closely related to the original subject, even though they may not use the same terminology.

38. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems38 Web of Science Citation Analysis

39. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems39 About Citation Reports Use to quickly see citations over a period of time to a set of publications Provide aggregate citation statistics for a set of search results –Graphs that show publication activity and citation activity by year –Average citations per item and average times cited per year –H-index –Remove self-citations

40. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems40 Citation Reports Create reports for sets of 10,000 or fewer Available for: –Quick Search –General Search –Search within a Set –Author Finder –Refine/Analyze Not available for: –Cited Reference Search –Citing Articles Summary –Related Records Search Results

41. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems41 Author search

42. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems42 Author search results

43. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems43 Citation Report

44. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems44 H-index

45. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems45 H-index Hirsch, J. E. (2005). An index to quantify an individual's scientific research output. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(46), 16569-16572. –Meaningful when compared to others within the same discipline area. –Researchers in one field may have very different h-indices than researchers in another (e.g. Life Sciences vs Physics).

46. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems46 Citation Counts

47. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems47 Output Citation Report data

48. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems48 ISI Web of Knowledge Citation Alert

49. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems49 Contributing Computer Science Fields Database Information retrieval Data mining system, statistics software Visualization Graphics user interfaces Text editors and processors Intelligent agents Many more ……

50. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems50 Other Examples More practical projects Three undergoing projects –Web-based learning support: treasure hunting games –Web-based research support: Weblog –Web-based medical support: using decision theoretical rough set model for risk analysis

51. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems51 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

52. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems52 Architecture of WLSS Teaching Support System User Knowledge Base Interne t Information Retrieval Support System Learning Order Indexing Database Contents Management System INTERFACEINTERFACE USER Conventional Indexing Database Domain Knowledge Base Web-based Learning Game System Membership Management System Course Knowledge Base Academic Dictionary Database

53. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems53 Example: A Treasure Map Data Representation Mountain Data communications Unicode ISO Numbers Audio Video Components Protocol Village Event 1 Start Quiz End Threat Help Fake treasure Real treasure Event Extende d ASCII Images Text ASCII

54. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems54 A Partial Architecture DBMS Knowledge Management Rough Sets Information Retrieval Control Facilities Interface/Presentation Web/Internet Knowledge Base Users Patient Database Risk Database Rule Database

55. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems55 Rough Set Component Knowledge Management Information Tables +11o4o4 -10o3o3 -00o2o2 +01o1o1 da2a2 a1a1 Object data Rules if {a 1 = 1} … then {d = ‘+’} Knowledge Base if {a1 = 0} … then {d = ‘-’}r3r3 if {a1 = 1} … then {d = ‘+’}r2r2 if {a1 = 2} … then {d = ‘+’}r1r1 Rule Domain Specific Rough Set Analysis Data Mining Component Database Management

56. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems56 Conclusion Support systems will play more and more important roles in the near future. They provide a potential solution for information/tool overload and the complexity of modern problems. It is necessary and beneficial to study Web- based support systems as a separate sub-field of research. The successful story of decision support systems can be repeated in other domains.

57. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems57 Conclusion WSS is a newly identified research area The research on WSS is a natural evolution of the existing research. –DSS => WDSS => WSS –DSS => Computerized SS => WSS We identify domain, scope, research of WSS WRSS is a concrete example of WSS. Expect that WSS will attract more research.

58. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems58 WSS publications J. T. Yao, An Introduction to Web-based Support Systems, Journal of Intelligent Systems, 17(1-3), 267-281, 2007. H.K. Bhargava, D.J. Power, D. Sun, Progress in Web-based decision support technologies, Decision Support Systems, 43(4), 1083-1095, 2007. M. Chen, Y. Liou, C. –W. Wang, Y. W. Fan, Y.-P. J. Chie, TeamSpirit: Design, implementation, and evaluation of a Web-based group decision support system, Decision Support Systems, 43(4), 1186-1202, 2007. J.T. Yao, J.P. Herbert, Web-based Support Systems based on Rough Set Analysis, Proceedings of International Conference on Rough Sets and Emerging Intelligent System Paradigms (RSEISP'07), June 28-30, 2007, Warsaw, Poland, LNAI 4585, pp 360-370. J. T. Yao, D. W. Kim, J. P. Herbert, Supporting Online Learning with Games, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 6570, Data Mining, Intrusion Detection, Information Assurance, and Data Networks Security 2007, April 9-13, 2006, Orlando, Florida, USA, edited by Belur V. Dasarathy, (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 2007), 65700G-(1-11). J.T. Yao, Supporting Research with Weblogs: A Study on Web-Based Research Support Systems, The 3rd International Workshop on Web-Based Support Systems, Dec 18, 2006, Hong Kong, WI-IAT 2006 Work shops Proceedings, pp161-164.WI-IAT 2006 Work shops Proceedings J. T. Yao, W. N. Liu, L. Fan, Y. Y. Yao and X. D. Yang, Supporting Sustainable Communities with Web-based Information Systems, Journal of Environmental Informatics, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2006, pp84-94.

59. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems59 WSS publications J. T. Yao, W.N. Liu, Web-based Dynamic Delphi: a New Survey Instrument, Proceedings of SPIE No 6241, Data Mining, Intrusion Detection, Information Assur ance, And Data Networks Security 2006, April 17-18, 2006, Orlando, Florida, USA, edited by Belur V. Dasarathy, (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 2006), pp.169-179. J.T. Yao, On Web-based Support Systems, Proceedings of the 2nd Indian International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Pune, India, December 20-22, 2005, pp2589-2600. J.T. Yao, Design of Web-based Support Systems, 8th International Conference on Computer Science and Informatics (CSI), Salt Lake City, USA July 21-26, 2005, pp349-352. Y.Y. Yao, J.T. Yao, C.J. Butz, P. Lingras and D. Jutla, “ Web-based Support Systems: a Report of the WIC Canada Research Centre ”, Proceedings of the IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence, Beijing, China, Sept 20-24, 2004, pp787-788. J. T. Yao, V.V. Raghavan, G.Y. Wang, Proceedings of the Second Workshop Web- based Support Systems (WSS'04), Beijing, China, Sept 20, 2004.Proceedings of the Second Workshop Web- based Support Systems W.N. Liu, J.T. Yao, L. Fan, Y.Y. Yao, X.D. Yang, “ Web-based Support Systems for Sustainable Communities ”, Proceedings of the Second Workshop Web-based Support Systems (WSS'04), Beijing, China, Sept 20, 2004, pp102-110.

60. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems60 WSS publications Z. Tang, B.A. Engel, J. Choi, K. Sullivan, M. Sharif, K.J. Lim, A Web-based DSS for erosion control structure planning, Applied Engineering In Agriculture, 20 (5), 707- 714, 2004. P. Bharatia, A. Chaudhury, An empirical investigation of decision-making satisfaction in web-based decision support systems, Decision Support Systems, 37(2), 187-197, 2004. Y.L. Zhao, J.T. Yao, Y.Y. Yao, “ Data Mining Support Systems ”, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. #5433, Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery: Theory, Tools, and Technology VI, 12-13 April 2004, Orlando, USA, edited by Belur V. Dasarathy, (SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 2004), pp218-227. J. T. Yao, Y.Y. Yao, “ Web-based Information Retrieval Support Systems: building research tools for scientists in the new information age ”, Proceedings of the IEEE/WIC International Conference on Web Intelligence (WI'03), Halifax, Canada, Oct 13-17, 2003, pp570-573. H. Tang, Y. Wu, J.T. Yao, G.Y. Wang, Y. Y. Yao, “ CUPTRSS: A Web-based Research Support System ”, Proceedings of the Workshop on Applications, Products and Services of Web-based Support Systems (WSS03), Halifax, Canada, Oct 13, 2003, pp21-28. J. T. Yao, Y.Y. Yao, “ Web-based Support Systems ”, Proceedings of the Workshop on Applications, Products and Services of Web-based Support Systems (WSS'03), Halifax, Canada, Oct 13, 2003, pp1-5.

61. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems61 WSS publications J. T. Yao, P. Lingras, Proceedings of the Workshop on Applications, Products and Services of Web-based Support Systems (WSS'03), Halifax, Canada, Oct 13, 2003.Proceedings of the Workshop on Applications, Products and Services of Web-based Support Systems Y.Y. Yao, A Framework for Web-based Research Support Systems, Proceedings of the 27th Annual International Computer Software and Applications Conference (COMPSAC 2003), Dallas, USA, November 3-6, 2003, IEEE Computer Society Press, 601-606. Y.Y. Yao, Granular computing for the design of information retrieval support systems, Information Retrieval and Clustering, Wu, W., Xiong, H. and Shekhar, S. (Eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003, 299-329. D. J Power, S. Kaparthi, Building Web-based decision support systems, Studies in Informatics and Control, 11, 291-302, 2002. Y.Y. Yao, Information retrieval support systems, FUZZ-IEEE'02 in The 2002 IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, May 12-17, 2002, pp. 773-778. K.R. Molenaar, A.D. Songer, Web-Based Decision Support Systems: Case Study in Project Delivery, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 15(4), 259- 267, 2001.

62. Web-based Support Systems JingTao Yao Department of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science, University of Regina Regina CANADA S4S 0A2 jtyao@cs.uregina.ca http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao

63. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems63 Where is Regina?

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66. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems66 MapQuest: Dec 2006

67. J T Yao: Web-based Support Systems67 MapQuest: Aug 2007

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