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The authors introduce an information visualization model, WebStar, for hyperlink-based information systems. Hyperlinks within a hyperlink-based document can be visualized in a two-dimensional visual space. All links are projected within a display sphere in the visual space. The relationship between a specified central document and its hyperlinked documents is visually presented in the visual space. In addition, users are able to define a group of subjects and to observe relevance between each subject and all hyperlinked documents via movement of that subject around the display sphere center. WebStar allows users to dynamically change an interest center during navigation. A retrieval mechanism is developed to control retrieved results in the visual space. Impact of movement of a subject on the visual document distribution is analyzed. An ambiguity problem caused by projection is discussed. Potential applications of this visualization model in information retrieval are included. Future research directions on the topic are addressed.

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The application of visualization techniques to information retrieval (IR) has resulted in the development of innovative systems and interfaces that are now available for public use. Visualization tools have emerged in research environments and more recently on the Web to retrieve information. Questions arise in regard to the utility of Web-based IR visualization tools for assisting users not only in manipulating search output, but also in managing the information retrieval process. To understand how Web-based visualization tools enable visual information retrieval, this article reviews some of the human perceptual theory behind the graphical interface of information visualization systems, analyzes iconic representations and information density on visualization displays, and examines information retrieval tasks that have been used in visualization system user research. This article is timely since it addresses new technologies for Web information retrieval and discusses future information visualization user research directions.

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The author reflects the conceptual and practical questions of network competence in the context of information seeking. Network competence is seen as one of the information-related competences and is defined as the mastery of four major areas: knowledge of information resources available on the Internet, skilled use of the ICT tools to access information, judgment of the relevance of information, and communication. Drawing on the ideas of the social cognitive theory developed by Albert Bandura, a model of network competence is introduced in order to discuss network competence ?in action?. In the model, network competence is put in practical context by relating five major factors: network competence, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, affective factors such as anxiety, and experiences received from information seeking on the Internet. Particular attention is devoted to the connections between network competence and self-efficacy which denote a person?s judgment of his or her ability to organize and execute action, such as finding information on the Web.

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This is the first part of a two-part article that reviews 25 years of published research findings on end-user searching in online information retrieval (IR) systems. In Part 1 (Markey, ), the author seeks to answer the following questions: What characterizes the queries that end users submit to online IR systems? What search features do people use? What features would enable them to improve on the retrievals they have in hand? What features are hardly ever used? What do end users do in response to the system's retrievals? Are end users satisfied with their online searches? Summarizing searches of online IR systems by the search features people use everyday makes information retrieval appear to be a very simplistic one-stop event. In Part 2, the author examines current models of the information retrieval process, demonstrating that information retrieval is much more complex and involves changes in cognition, feelings, and/or events during the information seeking process. She poses a host of new research questions that will further our understanding about end-user searching of online IR systems.

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This article attempts to provide an overview of the key metadata research issues and the current projects and initiatives that are investigating methods and developing technologies aimed at improving our ability to discover, access, retrieve, and assimilate information on the Internet through the use of metadata.

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The application of visualization techniques to information retrieval (IR) has resulted in the development of innovative systems and interfaces that are now available for public use. Visualization tools have emerged in research environments and more recently on the Web to retrieve information. Questions arise in regard to the utility of Web-based IR visualization tools for assisting users not only in manipulating search output, but also in managing the information retrieval process. To understand how Web-based visualization tools enable visual information retrieval, this article reviews some of the human perceptual theory behind the graphical interface of information visualization systems, analyzes iconic representations and information density on visualization displays, and examines information retrieval tasks that have been used in visualization system user research. This article is timely since it addresses new technologies for Web information retrieval and discusses future information visualization user research directions.

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Abstract:

The authors introduce an information visualization model, WebStar, for hyperlink-based information systems. Hyperlinks within a hyperlink-based document can be visualized in a two-dimensional visual space. All links are projected within a display sphere in the visual space. The relationship between a specified central document and its hyperlinked documents is visually presented in the visual space. In addition, users are able to define a group of subjects and to observe relevance between each subject and all hyperlinked documents via movement of that subject around the display sphere center. WebStar allows users to dynamically change an interest center during navigation. A retrieval mechanism is developed to control retrieved results in the visual space. Impact of movement of a subject on the visual document distribution is analyzed. An ambiguity problem caused by projection is discussed. Potential applications of this visualization model in information retrieval are included. Future research directions on the topic are addressed.

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Abstract:

The author reflects the conceptual and practical questions of network competence in the context of information seeking. Network competence is seen as one of the information-related competences and is defined as the mastery of four major areas: knowledge of information resources available on the Internet, skilled use of the ICT tools to access information, judgment of the relevance of information, and communication. Drawing on the ideas of the social cognitive theory developed by Albert Bandura, a model of network competence is introduced in order to discuss network competence ?in action?. In the model, network competence is put in practical context by relating five major factors: network competence, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, affective factors such as anxiety, and experiences received from information seeking on the Internet. Particular attention is devoted to the connections between network competence and self-efficacy which denote a person?s judgment of his or her ability to organize and execute action, such as finding information on the Web.

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This article attempts to provide an overview of the key metadata research issues and the current projects and initiatives that are investigating methods and developing technologies aimed at improving our ability to discover, access, retrieve, and assimilate information on the Internet through the use of metadata.

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