Make Mine Interactive

Source Article:

Bates, M.. (2008, December). Make Mine Interactive. EContent, 31(10), 63. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1608426341).

Abstract

The author discussed three finding tools (SortfIX, SearchCloud and SearchMe) which offers new innovation and techniques in information retrieval.

Things I learned from the article:

1. Three new search tools that provide more personalized searching.
2. Because we are now leaving in a fast-phased world, people nowadays can easily get tired of a certain technology. Only years ago, people were so into Google, Yahoo, etc … but today they are looking for a more dynamic and animated environment.
3. Searching in a more interactive environment does a big difference in information retrieval experience.

Right after reading the article, I quickly tried the three search tools the author mentioned. True enough to her descriptions, these search tools really offer a different information retrieval experience. They are not visually attractive, in fact, their home pages are almost bare (just like Google), but I won’t be surprised if they will be the new trends in web searching. I was practically amazed by how they work. Each has a distinct feature which facilitates better information retrieval. SortFix gives a different touch to the Boolean’s NOT and provides definition to possible keywords for your search. SearchCloud, on the other hand, allows researchers to weigh how much importance they would want to place on a certain keyword on their search string by font sizes. In addition and in contrary to my report, which states that the display of results in Web IR are not ranked by degree of relevance, this particular tool does. Finally, Searchme, the one I liked the most, displays images of the retrieved websites providing the researchers with an overview of what the websites contain and look like.

Imagine if all these features will be available to the traditional information retrieval systems, researching will be more exciting and interesting. Seeing how the matched books of your query look like would be nice and motivating. Interfaces which provide ease in use and straightforwardness may be the reason why students or even faculty members choose to use the web over the library database. Providing visual and interactive interfaces in information retrieval systems, particularly those of the libraries, would mean discovering and learning other than retrieval.