Semantics of time travel in a generative information space

This thesis focuses on interactive and computational semantics for manipulating the time-based medium of an evolving information space. The interactive semantics enable the user to engage in linear timeline traversal and non-linear history manipulation. Extended tape recorder metaphor controls, including jog-shuttle based navigation, provide the user with flexible means for operating the software's generative functionalities, and linearly traversing session history. The user can see previews of information space states while traversing the history using the jog-shuttle. We also introduce a door-latch metaphor that enables one of several considered forms of nonlinear history manipulation. Users can change history by retroactively latching an information sample in its position across time. For representing the information space history, we have developed MPEG-like computational keyframe semantics. This representation is in the form of XML, which is generated automatically and converted back to Java by a framework named ecologylab.xml, which was developed as a part of this thesis. These computational keyframe semantics serve as the basis for interaction semantics. A user study was conducted in the form of a design competition, to evaluate these new features. The results indicated that the users do find the time travel features useful and they feel more in-control of the information space with access to time travel features compared to the case when time travel features are not present

Studying Europe in Central Asia: The Case of Kyrgyzstan. EUCAM Commentary No. 5, November 2009

As the European Union sets out an ambitious agenda in its Central Asian strategy, its support for education may be used to raise awareness of Europe and help states create national cadres capable of sustaining the desired dialogue. A number of universities in Kyrgyzstan have already introduced European studies into their curricula. While it is far too early to take stock, some preliminary impressions can already be discussed

Manipulating history in generative hypermedia

We continue to develop a generative hypermedia system that uses composition for browsing, collecting and organizing information samples from web pages. The system’s generative actions of collecting information samples and composing them visually are conducted iteratively over time, based on an adaptable user model. The system presents the ongoing generation of the composition to the user in an interactive information space. In this space, the user can directly manipulate the composition through interactive design operations, and affect the model by expressing positive or negative interest in each sample. We are developing mechanisms for manipulating the time-based medium of the evolving information space. Interaction design affords linear timeline traversal and non-linear time travel. Extended tape recorder metaphor controls, including jog-shuttle based navigation, provide the user with flexible means for operating the system's generative functionalities, and linearly traversing session history. We introduce a door-latch metaphor that enables one of several considered forms of non-linear time travel. Users can change history by retroactively locking an information sample in position across time