Uses a simple model of an information retrieval (IR) technology to examine performance measures for IR systems. Shows that, if a user is employing a system optimally, then reasonable performance measures will tend to be relatively robust, or insensitive, to small variations in assumptions about the user's behavior. (AEF)

In an information systems class, 161 students were taught using integrated media, and 206 controls received traditional textbook, lecture, and lab. The control group showed higher gains from pre- to posttest. Environmental, preparation, and setup factors possibly influenced the treatment group's outcomes. (SK)

CD-ROMs (compact disc read-only memory) are useful in teaching health education, though there are very few available. The paper describes CD-ROM use in classrooms, examining enhanced individual learning experiences and focusing on CD-ROM use in health education. It also offers a listing of health-related CD-ROMs that are currently available. (SM)

Discusses problems with navigation in hypertext systems, including cognitive overload, and describes a study that tested information visualization techniques to see which best represented the underlying structure of Web space. Considers the effects of visualization techniques on user performance on information searching tasks and the effects of…

Addresses the query- versus document-oriented dichotomy in information retrieval. Introduces a maximum likelihood approach to utilizing feedback data that can be used to construct a concrete object function that estimates both document and query parameters in accordance with all available feedback data. (AEF)

Provides an overview of current image retrieval systems. Describes the architecture of the SOFM (Self Organizing Feature Maps) based image retrieval system, discussing the system architecture and features. Introduces the Kohonen model, and describes the implementation details of SOFM computation and its learning algorithm. Presents a test example…

Describes World Geography, a commercial Web subscription geographic information source. Discusses its use as a reference source, including content, navigation, and links; the teaching module; integrating technology into the curriculum; pricing; and vendor information. (LRW)

Proposes a two-step model of discovery in which new scientific hypotheses can be generated and subsequently tested. Applying advanced natural language processing techniques to find biomedical concepts in text, the model is implemented in a versatile interactive discovery support tool. This tool is used to successfully simulate Don R. Swanson's…

Discusses indexing and access to digital resources, especially on the Internet. Topics include subject searching versus indexing; multiple terms of access; folk classification; basic level terms; folk access; Bradford's Law; Zipfian distributions; vocabulary scalability; the Resnikoff-Dolby 30:1 Rule; domain-specific indexing; and implications for…

Examines the role of information architects through five interviews with information architects who responded by email to a series of questions. Topics include developing and implementing information systems to enable decision-making; knowledge architecture; Web page design; organizing information; users' information needs; Internet strategies;…

Describes DVD (Digital Videodisc, or Digital Versatile Disk) technology which offers the ability to combine laser disc and CD-ROM programs to create a multimedia platform that can deliver high quality, full-motion video and an on-screen user interface for interactive navigation and branching for providing group or individual instruction. (LRW)

Four types of video surrogates were compared under two tasks. Multidimensional scaling was used to map dimensional dispersions of users' judgments of similarity between videos and surrogates. Congruence between these maps was used to evaluate representativeness of each surrogate type. Congruence was greater for image-based than for text-based…

Investigates end-users' queries by comparing the features of the queries to those identified in previous. Participants, 29 college students majoring in art history, were required to finish a term paper including at least 20 images. Participants' image queries were collected by pre- and post-search questionnaires, and three human reviewers mapped…

Describes how career development programs became the focus of an international partnership between the United States and Canada. Discusses the partnership's efforts at developing training and materials that promote the use of occupational and labor markets information and the creation of a computer-based career information delivery system.…

This exploratory study provides a qualitative report on the integration of the extensive use of a large-scale hypermedia information system (Perseus) on CD-ROM in university class settings. Examines how the learners use Perseus to create their projects, and what their affective attitude and cognitive perceptions are towards hypermedia. (Contains…