Visualizations for Digital Libraries

Abstract

A good understanding of user tasks is the foundation of designing useful visualizations. Rao et al. defined several specific user tasks of digital libraries and illustrated some existing information-visualization techniques that can be used to enhance these tasks, such as TileBar, Cone Tree, and Document Lens.1 The tasks were browsing subsets of sources iteratively, viewing context-of-query match, visualizing passages within documents, rendering sources and results, reflecting time costs of interaction, managing multiple-search processes, integrating multiple search and browsing techniques, and visualizing large information sets. Moreover, Zaphiris et al. generalized these tasks into three essential ones: searching, navigation, and browsing.2 Indeed, most information-visualization projects for digital libraries have emphasized these three tasks.In terms of searching, Shneiderman et al. proposed the use of a two-dimensional display with continuous variables to view several thousand search results simultaneously.3 This visualization included two strategies: two-dimensional visualizations, and browsers for hierarchical data sets (implemented by using categorical and hierarchical axes). In combination with a grid display, this visualization let users see an overview by colorcoded dots or bar charts arranged on a grid and organized by familiar labeled categories. Users could probe further by zooming in on desired categories or switching to another hierarchical variable. A language-independent document-classification system, completed by Liu et al., provided a search aid in a digital-library environment and helped users analyze the search query results visually. 4 This system used a vector model to calculate the similarities between documents and a Java applet to display the classification to the user.In terms of navigation, there are also a variety of information-visualization applications. The previous example of two-dimensional display developed by Shniederman et al. also contained navigation functions. 5Another example is Hascoet's map interface applied to a digital library. 6 This prototype was associated with summary views in the form of navigation trees and neighbor trees that showed documents related to one focus document. The user interface was composed of maps automatically generated based on the characteristics of documents retrieved and a default configuration. Users could also modify the configuration of maps and edit maps (classical operations such as cut, paste, move, delete, save and load a view, and expand a view).As for browsing, the use of dynamic queries is a technique that has been employed for some time. Ahlberg and Shneiderman's (1994) FilmFinder is an early example. 7Users can move several sliders to select query parameters, and the search results change with the movement of the sliders. This tool can help users browse movie records more easily and cognitively. Another technique is Query Previews, proposed by Doan et al. 8 Query Previews allows users to rapidly gain an understanding of the cont...

Subject-Based Information Retrieval System in Digital Libraries

“…The study of Daniel Hienert et al showed that graphics and interaction techniques can be used intuitively and the questions can be answered very fast [3]. One important technique for designing such user-friendly interfaces is information visualization [4].…”

Help features in digital libraries: types, formats, presentation styles, and problems

“…Context-sensitive Help is the desirable approach, as suggested by Hill et al (2000) based on user requirements, for offering users opportunities to interact with IR systems when they need help, but context-sensitive Help has yet to be implemented in digital libraries. In addition, visualisation tools for searching, navigation, and browsing digital libraries are a new direction for Help design (Wan, 2006).…”

Help with health information on the web

“…This idea is important when considering the diverse range of user groups who search digital medical libraries and consumer health information web sites (Wang, 2006). In recent years, there has been a proliferation of online resources that offer health-related information and people are increasingly using the web for consumer health research (Fox, 2006).…”

“…Monopoli et al (2006) suggest that users searching for information via online means view the internet as a kind of “human intermediary” that replaces the role that was traditionally occupied by librarians and other search intermediaries. This idea is important when considering the diverse range of user groups who search digital medical libraries and consumer health information web sites (Wang, 2006). In recent years, there has been a proliferation of online resources that offer health‐related information and people are increasingly using the web for consumer health research (Fox, 2006).…”