Is Evaluating Visual Search Interfaces in Digital Libraries Still an Issue?

Although various visual interfaces for digital libraries have been developed in prototypical systems, very few of these visual approaches have been integrated into today's digital libraries. In this position paper we argue that this is most likely due to the fact that the evaluation results of most visual systems lack comparability. There is no fix standard on how to evaluate visual interactive user interfaces. Therefore it is not possible to identify which approach is more suitable for a certain context. We feel that the comparability of evaluation results could be improved by building a common evaluation setup consisting of a reference system, based on a standardized corpus with fixed tasks and a panel for possible participants.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, LWA Workshop 201

IRMM HCB and HCBD in Blankvoorn (testmaterial for reference material)

Blankvoorn Nieuwe Merwede (Roach, Rutilus rultilus) has been tested as a reference material for the components HCBD and HCB for biota monitoring according to the Water Framework Directive. Both components in the blankvoorn are present at moderate levels (overall average levels of respectively HCBD 1.6 μg/kg and HCB 6.2 μg/kg). These concentrations are far above reporting limits (respectively 0.1 μg/kg for HCBD and 0.2 μg/kg for HCB) and should therefore be suitable for use in a reference material

Assessing Visualization Techniques for the Search Process in Digital Libraries

In this paper we present an overview of several visualization techniques to support the search process in Digital Libraries (DLs). The search process typically can be separated into three major phases: query formulation and refinement, browsing through result lists and viewing and interacting with documents and their properties. We discuss a selection of popular visualization techniques that have been developed for the different phases to support the user during the search process. Along prototypes based on the different techniques we show how the approaches have been implemented. Although various visualizations have been developed in prototypical systems very few of these approaches have been adapted into today's DLs. We conclude that this is most likely due to the fact that most systems are not evaluated intensely in real-life scenarios with real information seekers and that results of the interesting visualization techniques are often not comparable. We can say that many of the assessed systems did not properly address the information need of cur-rent users.Comment: 23 pages, 14 figures, pre-print to appear in "Wissensorganisation mit digitalen Technologien" (deGruyter

Does the Dutch Model Really Exist?

The policy that has led from the ‘Dutch disease’ (in the 1980s) to the ‘Dutch miracle’ (in the 1990s) consists of three tracks: 1) wage moderation, 2) retrenching public expenditure and reducing the tax burden, 3) slimming the welfare system. The wage moderation track seems to have been the most important one. The term ‘Dutch model’ refers to the socioeconomic system of the Netherlands. Most observers point in particular to the relatively low unemployment rate to indicate the success of this model. However, the economic inactivity rate in the Netherlands is not lower than in neighboring countries. This suggests that open unemployment in the Netherlands has partly been replaced with hidden unemployment. In particular the disability scheme seems to contain a large component of hidden unemployment. Another feature of the Dutch model is its consensus seeking nature, which is fostered by its institutional structure.Dutch model, Dutch disease, Netherlands, polder model

Does the Dutch Model Really Exist?

The policy that has led from the ‘Dutch disease’ (in the 1980s) to the ‘Dutch miracle’ (in the 1990s) consists of three tracks: 1) wage moderation, 2) retrenching public expenditure and reducing the tax burden, 3) slimming the welfare system. The wage moderation track seems to have been the most important one. The term ‘Dutch model’ refers to the socioeconomic system of the Netherlands. Most observers point in particular to the relatively low unemployment rate to indicate the success of this model. However, the economic inactivity rate in the Netherlands is not lower than in neighboring countries. This suggests that open unemployment in the Netherlands has partly been replaced with hidden unemployment. In particular the disability scheme seems to contain a large component of hidden unemployment. Another feature of the Dutch model is its consensus seeking nature, which is fostered by its institutional structure.Dutch model, welfare system, Dutch disease, Dutch miracle

Local public procurement: how to deal with a creative bidder? A case study from the Netherlands

This paper presents an analysis of the procurement of transportation services for the disabled by the town of Ridderkerk. The method used consisted of a study of the town’s files and interviews with 11 persons involved. The tender specifications were peculiar in that they required bidders to submit a schedule with prices per ride for seven classes ranging from 100,000 to over 600,000, whereas the real number of rides amounted to 270,000. One of the bidders quoted high prices for the first classes and very low prices for the last classes. On the basis of all seven classes, he quoted the lowest costs and won the contract. However, on the basis of the real number of rides he was the second most expensive bidder.Public procurement; local government; Netherlands; transportation services for disabled