A primary goal of this project was to develop an interface that would provide direct access for inexperienced users to existing online bibliographic information retrieval networks. The experiment tested the concept of a virtual-system mode of access to a network of heterogeneous interactive retrieval systems and databases. An experimental…

This document is a study of the processing of questions input to computerized question-answering system such as the RAND Relational Data File. The process consists of (1)transforming the natural-language question into a symbolic question (i.e., a certain formula of predicate calculus) and (2)generating the answer by calculating the value set of…

The document retrieval system at Coordinated Science Laboratory is implemented on a Control Data 1604 computer system. Recorded information from each source article includes 1) conventional bibliographic data such as authorship, author affiliation, title, year of publication, etc., 2) detailed bibliographic data from each of the cited references,…

This report, resulting from the Context Information Processing Project, is a review of request language and search logic in its present state with the purpose of relating these findings to the design of QUERY (the language described in LI 001 652) and to context information processing needs. A basic assumption is that an information retrieval…

Reviews aspects of the relationship between machine learning and information retrieval. Highlights include learning programs that extend from knowledge-sparse learning to knowledge-rich learning; the role of the thesaurus; knowledge bases; artificial intelligence; weighting documents; work frequency; and merging classification structures. (78…

This essay suggests that until online public access catalogs can be truly user-friendly by encouraging searchers to learn and control and relearn, making systems too easy is not in the users' or systems' best interests. Experiences at Library of Congress and examples of search strategies and menu systems are noted. (EJS)

As an exploration of the frustration experienced by users of an on-line interactive retrieval system, students participated in an experiment using an experimental reference retrieval system for library literature. It was anticipated that significant variations in user behavior would be displayed by the control and experimental groups. (19…

The virtues of interactive systems are speed, intimacy, and - if time-sharing is involved - economy. The major problems are the cost of the large computers and files necessary for bibliographic data, the still-high cost of communications, and the generally poor design of the user-system interfaces. (Author)

This first of two related articles by the same authors describes the philosophy, design, and implementation of an experimental translating computer system, CONIT, whose purpose was to investigate techniques for simplifying access to, and operation of, bibliographic retrieval systems. Forty-one references are cited. (FM)

This second of two related articles by the same authors evaluates the performance of an experimental translating computer system, CONIT, whose purpose was to investigate techniques for simplifying access to, and operation of, bibliographic retrieval systems. Forty-two references are cited. (FM)

Reviews research that has been relevant to improved user access to online information retrieval systems: (1) background; (2) natural language interfaces; (3) information retrieval system interfaces; and (4) modification of systems through user feedback. A 29-item bibliography is included. (Author/JD)

Reviewed are several studies which demonstrate how artificial intelligence techniques can be applied in the design of end user-oriented interfaces (which would eliminate the need for an intermediary) to existing online systems, as well as in the development of future generations of online systems intended for the end user. (Author/SW)

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)

Focuses on the user and human-computer interaction aspects of the research based on the Okapi text retrieval system. Three experiments implementing different approaches to query expansion are described, including the use of graphical user interfaces with different windowing techniques. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of information architecture focuses on a model of information interaction that bridges the gap between human and computer and between information behavior and information retrieval. Illustrates how the process of information interaction is affected by the user, the system, and the content. (Contains 93 references.) (LRW)