C6: User Interfaces and Visualization

Objectives

This module provides an overview of human-computer interaction (HCI), information access processes, query specification, and interface support for the information retrieval systems.

Description

This module provides a basic coverage of general issues related to user interfaces and visualization for IR systems. Major topics include:

Introducton to Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) for IR;
The Information Access Process;
Starting Points for Search Interfaces;
Query Specification;
Context;
Using Relevance Judgements;
Interface Support for the Search Process;
Trends and Research Issues.

It takes approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours to go through the required class notes and practice exercises. It is highly recommednded that students read Chapter 10: User Interfaces and Visualization, by Dr. Marti Hearst, which is a part of the textbook Modern Information Retrieval, edited by Ricardo Baeza-Yates and Berthier Ribiero-Neto. The web resources are also a helpful tool in gaining practical knowledge about User Interfaces and Visualization.

Class Notes

Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction [flash] | [Windows Media] | [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]
The Information Access Process [flash] | [Windows Media] | [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]
Starting Points for Search Interfaces [flash] | [Windows Media] | [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]
Query Specification [flash] | [Windows Media] | [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]
Context [flash] | [Windows Media] | [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]
Using Relevance Judgements [flash] | [Windows Media] | [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]
Interface Support for the Search Process [flash] | [Windows Media] | [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]
Trends and Research Issues [.ppt] | [.doc] | [.pdf]

Practice Exercise

Timed Exercise
Exercise [.doc]| [.pdf]
-Answers [.doc]| [.pdf]

Suggested Readings and Resources:

In the Books

Chapter 10: User Interfaces and Visualization [.pdf] of the book Modern Information Retrieval, written by Dr. Marti Hearst, editors Ricardo Baeza-Yates and Berthier Ribiero-Neto, ISBN: 0-201-39829-X, Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1999.
Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction,
written by Ben Shneiderman. ISBN: 0321197860, Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 2004.
Designing Visual Interfaces: Communication-Oriented Techniques,
written by Kevin Mullet and Darell Sano. ISBN: 0133033899, Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr, 1994.
Envisioning Information,
written by Edward Tufte. ISBN: 0961392118, Publisher: Graphics Press, 1990.
Information Seeking in Electronic Environments,
written by Gary Marchioni. ISBN: 0521586747, Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Practical Digital Libraries; Books, Bytes, and Bucks,
written by Michael Lesk. ISBN: 1558604596, Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann, 1997.
Readings in Information visualization: Using Vision to Think,
written by Stuart K. Card, Jock D. MacKinley, and Ben Shneiderman. ISBN: 1558605339, Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann, 1999.
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information,
written by Edward Tufte. ISBN: 096139210X, Publisher: Graphics Press, 1992.

On the Web

Back to Modules