Describes OASIS, a prototype adaptive online catalog implemented as a front end to the University of California MELVYL catalog. Topics addressed include the concept of adaptive retrieval systems, strategic search commands, feedback, prototyping using a front-end, the problem of excessive retrieval, commands to limit or increase search results, and…

Describes a hypermedia system, HSYS, that was developed by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory to investigate human performance in technologically complex operational settings, i.e., nuclear power plants and offshore oil platforms. Three subsystems are explained: (1) a knowledge base; (2) an embedded training module; and (3) an advisory and…

Discussion of the importance of adhering to standards in the library community focuses on standards related to linking systems, such as bibliographic utilities and circulation systems, and online catalogs. Three areas in particular are highlighted: (1) communications standards; (2) data format standards; and (3) user interface and indexing…

Discussion of speech recognition technology and its use in computer-assisted instruction focuses on prototype systems designed for medical education. Commercial speech recognition systems are described, hardware and software requirements are examined, and the use of a speech recognition system to streamline an existing user interface is discussed.…

Describes the mental coding processes involved in the flow of information when the user is interacting with an enabling information-retrieval (IR) system, or a system designed to stimulate the user's grasping towards a higher understanding of the information need/problem/task that brought the user to the system. (Author/AEF)

Examines the potential of online methods for hypermedia research that allow the recording, analysis, and interpretation of learner/hypermedia interaction. Discusses discourse comprehension research, comprehension of printed text, reading time, verbal protocols, event-related potentials, and interaction protocols in hypermedia research. Contains 56…

Continues a discussion of the three chief information stations in a videoconference class. Describes the instructor camera at information station #2, an intermediary station between the three stations, and the student camera at station #1, the information station for interactive student participation. (AEF)

Presents an overview of the ways in which user/system interaction in interactive information-retrieval (IR) systems has been treated in IR research and practice over the years. Describes the characteristics of a number of IR systems, as well as proposals for IR systems, in light of challenges set for by John Bennett in 1971. Contains 82…

Discusses the need for semantic research in digital libraries to help overcome interoperability problems. Highlights include federal initiatives; semantic analysis; knowledge representations; human-computer interactions and information visualization; and the University of Illinois DLI (Digital Libraries Initiative) project through partnership with…

Explores the utility of using prior domain knowledge (in the form of taxonomies over attributes, attribute values and concept classes) to constrain the rule learner's search by requiring it to be consistent with what is already known about the domain. Spreading Activation Learning (SAL) is used to efficiently learn over taxonomically structured…

Presents an interaction model and an experimental method for information retrieval. This automated method helps identify which user and system variables are relevant, which are independent of other variables, and which ranges of the variables are most important. Results show that relevance feedback consistently improves retrieval performance. (AEF)

This interview with Nicholas Negroponte focuses on humans and technology, particularly the use of technology in education. Highlights include the effect of technology on society and culture; the role of technology; enhancing the learning process; interactive multimedia and the classroom; and improving education. (LRW)

Explains MOOsburg, a community-oriented MOO that models the geography of the town of Blacksburg, Virginia and is designed to be used by local residents. Highlights include the software architecture; client-server communication; spatial database; user interface; interaction; map-based navigation; application development; and future plans. (LRW)

Consistent with social agency theory, we hypothesized that learners who studied a set of worked-out examples involving proportional reasoning narrated by an animated agent with a human voice would perform better on near and far transfer tests and rate the speaker more positively compared to learners who studied the same set of examples narrated by…

This report describes the work of the Onscreen Documentation Subgroup in revising screens for GALIN, the University of Georgia (UGA) Libraries new online system. The responsibilities of the Subgroup were to revise screens from the previous online catalog and to create basic help screens, primarily for the command searching mode. Responsibilities…