Querying with Preferences in a Digital Library

We consider a collection of federated sources of the web, and a community of users that are interested in documents residing in one or more among the federated sources. The search for documents of interest is supported by a mediator that we call a digital library. The library simply indexes all documents that are made available to users by the federated sources. When a user addresses a query to the library, the library returns the URLs of documents satisfying the query. In such a context, one of the factors influencing user satisfaction is the size of the answer set when it is either too small (few or no documents), or too large (several hundreds or thousands of documents). In this paper, we address the problem of too large answer sets and we call personalized query a usual query together with (a) an upper bound on the number of documents returned and (b) a set of preferences as to the order in which the returned documents should be presented to the user; both these parameters are defined by the user online, during query formulation time. The main contribution of the paper is to propose a framework in which the problem can be stated formally, and a method for the evaluation of personalized queries

On Personalizing the Catalogs of Web Portals

In this paper we propose a method for personalizing the catalogs of Web Portals. We propose SCSL, a declarative language for defining personal semantic channels over Web Portal catalogs. A semantic channel is actually a view of one or more Portal catalogs. SCSL offers powerful primitives for filtering and restructuring available thematic topics and classified resources. A user can connect to a Portal infomediary in order to register, browse, or query his/her semantic channel

Emergent Knowledge Artifacts for Supporting Trialogical E-Learning

Abstract. This paper elaborates on scenarios for collaborative knowledge creation in the spirit of the trialogical learning paradigm. According to these scenarios the group knowledge base is formed by combining the knowledge bases of the participants according to various methods. The provision of flexible methods for defining various aspects of the group knowledge is expected to enhance synergy in the knowledge creation process and could lead to the development of tools that overcome the inelasticities of the current knowledge creation practices. Subsequently, these scenarios are projected to various knowledge representation frameworks and for each one of them the paper analyzes and discusses related techniques and identifies issues that are worth further research.

Trialogical E-Learning and Emergent Knowledge Artifacts

Abstract. According to the recently emerged, trialogical learning (TL) paradigm, learners are collaboratively developing shared objects of activity in a systematic fashion. In this paper we propose a basic learning scenario according to the TL paradigm. With this scenario as gnomon, we elaborate the technical issues that are raised for supporting it and we propose a flexible novel method for defining various aspects of the group knowledge.

Adaptive Personalisation in Self e-Learning Networks

This paper presents some of the personalisation services designed for self e-learning networks in the SeLeNe project. A self e-learning network consists of web-based learning objects that have been made available to the network by its users, along with metadata descriptions of these learning objects and of the network's users. The architecture of the network is distributed and service-oriented. The personalisation facilities include: querying learning object descriptions to return results tailored towards users' individual goals and preferences; the ability to define views over the learning object metadata; facilities for defining new composite learning objects; and facilities for subscribing to personalised event and change notification services

Adaptive Personalisation in Self e-Learning Networks

This paper presents some of the personalisation services designed for self e-learning networks in the SeLeNe project. A self e-learning network consists of web-based learning objects that have been made available to the network by its users, along with metadata descriptions of these learning objects and of the network's users. The architecture of the network is distributed and service-oriented. The personalisation facilities include: querying learning object descriptions to return results tailored towards users' individual goals and preferences; the ability to define views over the learning object metadata; facilities for defining new composite learning objects; and facilities for subscribing to personalised event and change notification services

Personalisation Services for Self e-Learning Networks

This paper describes the personalisation services designed for self e-learning networks in the SeLeNe project. A self e-learning network consists of web-based learning objects that have been made available to the network by its users, along with metadata descriptions of these learning objects and of the network's users. The proposed personalisation facilities include: querying learning object descriptions to return results tailored towards users' individual goals and preferences; the ability to define views over the learning object metadata; facilities for defining new composite learning objects; and facilities for subscribing to personalised event and change notification services. We show the feasibility of automatically deriving descriptions for composite learning objects and of realising the personalisation facilities using a service-based architecture, employing a combination of existing and new Semantic Web technologies including RDF/S, RQL, RVL, and ECA rules

A fibre optic displacement sensor

Fibre optics is beginning to find use for sensing purposes. Fibre optic sensors have many interesting features, e.g., their immunity to interference from electromagnetic fields. The paper briefly discusses different sensor principles. A displacement sensor using multimode, step index fibres is desccribed. Measurement data showing a resolution of 0.05 nm/sqrt(Hz) in a 150 µm linear range is given. In this sensor, the light coupling between two fibre ends varies with the position of a movable mirror. A mathematical model of the sensor is presented. Application to pressure sensing is also discussed.QC 2011110

Adaptive Personalisation in Self e-Learning Networks

This paper presents some of the personalisation services designed for self e-learning networks in the SeLeNe project. A self e-learning network consists of web-based learning objects that have been made available to the network by its users, along with metadata descriptions of these learning objects and of the network's users. The architecture of the network is distributed and service-oriented. The personalisation facilities include: querying learning object descriptions to return results tailored towards users' individual goals and preferences; the ability to define views over the learning object metadata; facilities for defining new composite learning objects; and facilities for subscribing to personalised event and change notification services