This paper presents two interactive visualization tools for learning management systems (LMS) in order to improve learning and teaching in online courses. The first tool was developed at the Intelligent Information Systems Laboratory (IISLab) at the Tampere University of Technology (TUT). The tool is used to analyse students' activity from…

Discussion of relevance in information retrieval focuses on manifestations of relevance within a system of relevance. Discusses intention, context, inference, and interaction; explains the concepts of affective, motivational, situational, and socio-cognitive relevance; and proposes a consolidated model of relevance manifestations. (Author/LRW)

Presents a stratified model of information retrieval interaction that views interaction as a dialog between participants (user and computer) through an interface. Discusses traditional and interaction models, and extension to relevance, user modeling, search term selection, and types of feedback in information retrieval. (AEF)

Discussion of information retrieval focuses on an Interaction Information Retrieval model in which documents are interconnected; queries and documents are treated in the same way; and retrieval is the result of the interconnection between query and documents. A theoretical mathematical formulation of this type of retrieval is given. (Contains 31…

Discusses the possibility and usefulness of applying Habermas' universal pragmatics to analyze information retrieval interaction. Examines current studies of human computer interaction (HCI) and presents a case study that investigated the initiation and development of verification of validity claims in HCI from the universal pragmatics…

Discusses the concept of information scent in a Web site, which is based on mental associations between concepts. Describes research in the field of human-computer interaction, including how humans locate information and semantic networks; and discusses navigation success, user testing, good links, and facet-based browsing. (LRW)

Provides a synopsis of a session that addressed the interaction between users of information retrieval systems and intermediaries, including presentations on (1) the role of face-work; (2) user-intermediary-computer interaction; (3) issues of democracy in interpersonal interaction; and (4) a conversation-analytic approach to the pre-online search…

In this article, the authors propose to characterize sequence learning in terms of automatic versus nonautomatic processing and to apply this contrast independently to knowledge acquisition and retrieval. In several experiments of sequence learning, automaticity of both the acquisition and retrieval of the acquired knowledge was independently…

Describes an expert system which provides users who have information needs with terms to express search queries; introduces principles on which the system's behavior is based; describes the system's main procedures and decision rules; presents an example of system use; and outlines possible improvements in system search and evaluation procedures.…

Examines traditional and interactive models that have emerged in information retrieval (IR), and proposes an interactive IR model based on different levels in the interactive processes. Analyzes strengths and weaknesses of the traditional model. Concludes with general remarks on the state of IR interaction research. (Author/AEF)

Presents results of a study that explores factors of user-Web interaction in finding factual information, develops a conceptual framework for studying user-Web interaction, and applies a process-tracing method for conducting holistic user-Web studies. Describes measurement techniques and proposes a model consisting of the user, interface, and the…

Freedom from the necessity for technical understanding of online technology allows librarians to focus on the human factors in online interaction. This article discusses estimates of Web use, need for user assistance, alternative sources of information, information overload and relevance, Internet identities, pornography and library policy, and…

Describes a model of information retrieval as social interaction, which distinguishes between three types of information interaction goals: (1) task-oriented; (2) topically oriented; and (3) those centered around situation assessment (SA). Results suggest that SA is an important cognitive activity in new information retrieval environments; SA…

Outlines principles underlying the theory of polyrepresentation as it applies to user cognitive space and information space of information retrieval (IR) systems. A discussion and diagram illustrate the interactive communication that takes place between users and IR systems in order to complete work tasks such as retrieving full text information.…

The Visual Analysis System (VAS) was developed to couple emerging successes in data mining with information visualization techniques in order to create a richly interactive environment for information retrieval from the World Wide Web. VAS's retrieval strategy operates by first using a conventional search engine to form a core set of retrieved…