Combining relevance information in a synchronous collaborative information retrieval environment

Traditionally information retrieval (IR) research has focussed on a single user interaction modality, where a user searches to satisfy an information need. Recent advances in both web technologies, such as the sociable web of Web 2.0, and computer hardware, such as tabletop interface devices, have enabled multiple users to collaborate on many computer-related tasks. Due to these advances there is an increasing need to support two or more users searching together at the same time, in order to satisfy a shared information need, which we refer to as Synchronous Collaborative Information Retrieval. Synchronous Collaborative Information Retrieval (SCIR) represents a significant paradigmatic shift from traditional IR systems. In order to support an effective SCIR search, new techniques are required to coordinate users' activities. In this chapter we explore the effectiveness of a sharing of knowledge policy on a collaborating group. Sharing of knowledge refers to the process of passing relevance information across users, if one user finds items of relevance to the search task then the group should benefit in the form of improved ranked lists returned to each searcher. In order to evaluate the proposed techniques we simulate two users searching together through an incremental feedback system. The simulation assumes that users decide on an initial query with which to begin the collaborative search and proceed through the search by providing relevance judgments to the system and receiving a new ranked list. In order to populate these simulations we extract data from the interaction logs of various experimental IR systems from previous Text REtrieval Conference (TREC) workshops

An Examination of SMS-Related Nonresponse Bias

With the proliferation of mobile information and communications technologies, researchers face new opportunities for data collection and challenges to data quality. Short message service (SMS) or “text messaging” is a flexible mobile data service that can be incorporated into survey designs in a variety of ways. Given the many uses of SMS, I provide a framework for the use of SMS in the survey process which outlines the temporal location of three types of SMS-related nonresponse: SMS nonconsent, SMS nondelivery, and SMS noncooperation. To better understand when SMS-related nonresponse might pose a risk of producing bias in survey estimates, I create three conceptual models of the mechanisms for SMS-related nonresponse – one for each of the three types of SMS-related nonresponse. Two forms of SMS-related nonresponse bias are analyzed in this dissertation, namely SMS nonconsent and SMS noncooperation. I examine the relative impact of these two forms of SMS-related nonresponse bias on a series of national estimates. Additionally, I create nonresponse weighting adjustments and examine their effectiveness at reducing SMS-related nonresponse bias in survey estimates. This dissertation uses data collected from a SMS experiment conducted by the Gallup Organization from a pool of respondents to Gallup Daily surveys from July 29, 2013 – October 14, 2013. This design provides a rich sampling frame from which to examine variables available for both respondents and nonrespondents to the SMS surveys. I develop two sets of response propensity models – one set predicting SMS consent and the other predicting SMS cooperation. Using the predicted probabilities from these models, I examine the relationships between response propensity and a group of survey variables of interest. Results indicate the presence of SMS-related nonresponse bias for a series of national survey estimates. However, the magnitude of bias differs across nonresponse types and across the survey variables of interest. Total SMS-related nonresponse bias is largely driven by noncooperation with the SMS survey. Results of the weighting adjustments were mixed. They performed well at reducing SMS nonconsent bias, but were less effective for SMS noncooperation. For both SMS nonconsent and SMS noncooperation, the strongest mechanisms of nonresponse tend to be respondent characteristics. Adviser: Kristen M. Olso

Towards an aspect weaving BPEL engine

This position paper proposes the use of dynamic aspects and the visitor design pattern to obtain a highly configurable and extensible BPEL engine. Using these two techniques, the core of this infrastructural software can be customised to meet new requirements and add features such as debugging, execution monitoring, or changing to another Web Service selection policy. Additionally, it can easily be extended to cope with customer-specific BPEL extensions. We propose the use of dynamic aspects not only on the engine itself but also on the workflow in order to tackle the problems of Web Service hot deployment and hot fixes to long running processes. In this way, composing aWeb Service "on-the-fly" means weaving its choreography interface into the workflow

Usability testing: a review of some methodological and technical aspects of the method

The aim of this paper is to review some work conducted in the field of user testing that aims at specifying or clarifying the test procedures and at defining and developing tools to help conduct user tests. The topics that have been selected were considered relevant for evaluating applications in the field of medical and health care informatics. These topics are: the number of participants that should take part in a user test, the test procedure, remote usability evaluation, usability testing tools, and evaluating mobile applications

Building the Web of Things with WS-BPEL and Visual Tags. Web of Things using Service-oriented Architecture standards

The Web of things is an emerging scenario in which everyday objects are connected to the Internet and can answer to HTTP queries with structured data. This paper presents a system that allows users to build networks of everyday objects using visual tags as proximity technology. The system backend is based on Service-oriented Architecture languages and tools for the runtime composition of “things” establishing connections we call hyperpipes.357-36