Introduces a personalization approach in a traditional information retrieval system. Describes extensions of integrating collaboration in personalization in the Web retrieval environment, based on differences in the nature of documents, users and search tasks between traditional and Web retrieval environments. Presents a user-oriented evaluation…

Outlines a view of the changing framework for information retrieval suggested by the Web environment. Speculates about how some of these changes may manifest in upcoming generations of information retrieval systems. Sketches ideas about the broader context of trust management infrastructure that will be needed to support these developments, and…

This study examines research that is part of an alternative paradigm in information needs and uses assessment. Approaches in the alternative paradigm include Sense-Making, Value-Added, and Anomalous States of Knowledge. From an analysis of these approaches and related research, a conceptual model has been developed. The model focuses on several…

This special issues comprises nine papers presenting a wide selection of approaches to handling subjectivity, vagueness, and imprecision in information retrieval (IR) and database management necessary for success in designing, developing and implementing effective tools for information access. (LRW)

With the rapid growth of the global information society, the concept of library has evolved to embrace all kinds of information collections, on all kinds of storage media, and using many different access methods. The users of today's information networks and digital libraries, no longer restricted by geographic or spatial boundaries, want to be…

Text similarity measurements are used to determine relationships between natural-language texts and text excerpts. The resulting linked hypertext maps can be broken down into text segments and themes used to identify different text types and structures, leading to improved information access and utilization. Examples are provided for text…

Models administrative and operating costs surrounding a hypermedia database and identifies seven conditions for the cost justification of hypermedia. Concludes that cost considerations aside, hypermedia offers significant data retrieval benefits in accessing text, video, still pictures, and sound, and provides substantially better human…

Investigates the use of signature files in Chinese information retrieval systems and proposes a new partitioning method-called Partitioned Signature File for Chinese (PSFC)-based on the characteristics of Chinese words. Experimental results confirm the features of PSFC and demonstrate its superiority over the traditional single signature file…

Examines the development of the Pacific Legal Information Network (PALIN). PALIN was designed to be an online information retrieval system for legal information between the Pacific island nations; however, now, it is a collection of legal holdings that may be photocopied and distributed. Guides to legislation in Papua New Guinea are also…

This set of papers offers insights into some of the major developments in the field of classification and knowledge organization, and highlights many of the fundamental changes in views and theories which have taken place during the last 40 years. This document begins with a series of reminiscences from former delegates of the first International…

Discusses the shift of information access from a data-centered to a user-centered model and describes the Daltext system, a prototype user-centered information system that allows the user to determine how the data will be viewed (i.e., within a datastream model, a set model, a relational model, and/or a hierarchical model). (Contains 30…

Fax-on-demand is a response application that allows callers to use touchtone telephones to access databases and other information. The information is then delivered to the caller's fax machine. Ten sidebars describe a variety of specific services. (11 references) (DB)

Discusses two query evaluation strategies used in large text retrieval systems: (1) term-at-a-time; and (2) document-at-a-time. Describes optimization techniques that can reduce query evaluation costs. Presents simulation results that compare the performance of these optimization techniques when applied to natural language query evaluation. (JMV)

The resolution power of a key is its ability, in the context of other keys for a given request, to increase query performance. This article studies the statistical properties of search keys, methods of characterizing the resolution power of keys automatically, and effects keys of varying resolution power have on retrieval effectiveness. (AEF)

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…