Using fuzzy logic to implement adaptability in WAY-Z39.50

The design and implementation of adaptive systems for accessing information is a sophisticated task. Different models have been proposed to build systems that adapt to the user reducing the complexity in the information browsing process, saving user time and offering personalized interfaces. The work described in this paper, named WAY-Z39.50, is an example of fuzzy adaptive system specially built for accessing digital librarie

Fuzzy adaptation for information acces to digital libraries

P. 287-297Different models have been proposed to build systems that adapt to the user reducing the complexity in the information browsing process, saving user time and offering personalised interfaces. The work described in this paper, named Way-Z39.50, is an example of adaptive system specially built for accessing digital libraries. A fuzzy decision mechanism is used to implement the adaptation of both the user interface and the information searching process. This paper describes how this system has been designed and implemented, focusing on its fuzzy-based components. Finally, it also briefly discusses the advantages of using fuzzy logic to implement adaptability of the user interface and the searching processS

Agent-based Adaptive Selection and Interaction to Z39.50 Servers

Digital libraries and OPACs are offering an enormous collection of information resources which can be accessed through Internet by quite different users thanks to the existence of standard protocols for information retrieval such as Z39.50. However, some users may find difficult to get the items they are looking for in such a huge bulk of heterogeneous resources since they have to know where and how they have to search for. Thus, one of the main reasons for the disregard of the Z39.50 service has traditionally been the absence of appropriate interfaces and the cost of making alternative searches. WAY-Z39.50 tries to help spreading the use of these servers by providing easy web access to them, as well as, by facilitating the access to multiple servers at once. The prototype described implements the WAY general model based on an agent-based architecture that provides adaptive searching in different servers through an adaptive interfac

Integration of distributed terminology resources to facilitate subject cross-browsing for library portal systems

With the increase in the number of distributed library information resources, users may have to interact with different user interfaces, learn to switch their mental models between these interfaces, and familiarise themselves with controlled vocabularies used by different resources. For this reason, library professionals have developed library portals to integrate these distributed information resources, and assist end-users in cross-accessing distributed resources via a single access point in their own library. There are two important subject-based services that a library portal system might be able to provide. The first is a federated search service, which refers to a process where a user can input a query to cross-search a number of information resources. The second is a subject cross-browsing service, which can offer a knowledge navigation tree to link subject schemes used by distributed resources. However, the development of subject cross-searching and browsing services has been impeded by the heterogeneity of different KOS (Knowledge Organisation System) used by different information resources. Due to the lack of mappings between different KOS, it is impossible to offer a subject cross-browsing service for a library portal system. [Continues.

Intelligent information retrieval from the World Wide Web using fuzzy user modelling.

This thesis investigates the application. of fuzzy logic techniques and user modelling to the process of information retrieval (IR) from the World Wide Web (WWW). The research issue is whether this process can be improved through such an application. The exponential rise of information itself as an invaluable global commodity, coupled with .acceierating development in. computing and telecommunications, and boosted by networked information sources such as the WWW, has led to the development of tools, such as search engines, to facilitate information search and retrieval. However, despite their sophistication, they are unable effectively to. address users' information. needs. Also, as the-WWW can be seen as a dynamic, continuously changing global information corpus, these tools suffer from the problems of irrelevancy and redundancy. Therefore, in order to overcome these problems and remain effective, IR systems need to become 'intelligent' in some way. It is from this premise that the focus of this research has developed. Initially, theoretical and investigative research into the areas ofIR from electronic sources and the nature of the Internet (including the WWW) revealed that highly sophisticated systems are being developed and there is a drive towards the integration of, for example, electronic libraries, COROM networks, and the WWW. Research into intelligent IR, the use of AI techniques to improve the IR process, informed an evaluation of various approaches. This revealed that a munber of techniques, for example, expert systems, neural networks and semantic networks, have been employed, with limited success. Owing to the nature of the WWW, though, many of the previous AI approaches are inapplicable as they rely too much on extensive knowledge of the retrieval corpus. However, the evaluation suggested that fuzzy logic, with its inherent ability to capture partial knowledge within fuzzy sets, is a valid approach. User modelling research indicated that adaptive user stereotypes are a fruitful way to represent different types of user and their information need. Here, these stereotypes are represented as fuzzy sets, ensuring flexibility and adaptivity. The goal of the reported research. then, was not to. develop an 'intelligent agent' but to apply fuzzy logic techniques and user modelling to the process of user query formulation, in order to test the research issue. This issue was whether the application of these techniques could improve the IR process. A prototype system, the Fuzzy Modelling Query Assistant (FMQA), was developed that attempts intelligently to assist the user in capturing their information need. The concept was to refine the user's query before submitting it to an existing search engine, in order to improve upon the IR results of using the search tool alone. To address the research issue, a user study of the FMQA was performed. The design and conduct is reported in depth. The study results were analysed and the findings are given. The results indicate that,. for certain types of user especially, the FMQA does provide improvement in the IR process, in terms of the results. There is a critical review of the research aims in the light of the results, conclusions are drawn and recommendations for future research given

Products and Services

Today’s global economy offers more opportunities, but is also more complex and competitive than ever before. This fact leads to a wide range of research activity in different fields of interest, especially in the so-called high-tech sectors. This book is a result of widespread research and development activity from many researchers worldwide, covering the aspects of development activities in general, as well as various aspects of the practical application of knowledge

From collaborative virtual research environment SOA to teaching and learning environment SOA

This paper explores the extension of the CORE VRE SOA to a collaborative virtual teaching and learning environment (CVTLE) SOA. Key points are brought up to date from a number of projects researching and developing a CVTLE and its component services. Issues remain: there are few implementations of the key services needed to demonstrate the CVTLE concept; there are questions about the feasibility of such an enterprise; there are overlapping standards; questions about the source and use of user profile data remain difficult to answer; as does the issue of where and how to coordinate, control, and monitor such a teaching and learning syste

A note on organizational learning and knowledge sharing in the context of communities of practice

Please, cite this publication as: Antonova, A. & Gourova, E. (2006). A note on organizational learning and knowledge sharing in the context of communities of practice. Proceedings of International Workshop in Learning Networks for Lifelong Competence Development, TENCompetence Conference. September 12th, Sofia, Bulgaria: TENCompetence. Retrieved June 30th, 2006, from http://dspace.learningnetworks.orgThe knowledge management (KM) literature emphasizes the impact of human factors for successful implementation of KM within the organization. Isolated initiatives for promoting learning organization and team collaboration, without taking consideration of the knowledge sharing limitations and constraints can defeat further development of KM culture. As an effective instrument for knowledge sharing, communities of practice (CoP) are appearing to overcome these constraints and to foster human collaboration.This work has been sponsored by the EU project TENCompetenc