Davide Mazza

Exploratory search framework for Web data sources

Exploratory search is an information seeking behavior where users progressively learn about one or more topics of interest; it departs quite radically from traditional keyword-based query paradigms, as it combines querying and browsing of resources, and covers activities such as investigating, evaluating, comparing, and synthesizing retrieved information. In most cases, such activities are enabled by a conceptual description of information in terms of entities and their semantic relationships. Customized Web applications, where few applicative entities and their relationships are embedded within the application logics, typically provide some support to exploratory search, which is, however, specific for a given domain. In this paper, we describe a general-purpose exploratory search framework, i.e., a framework which is neutral to the application logic. Our contribution consists of the formalization of the exploratory search paradigm over Web data sources, accessed by means of services; extracted information is described by means of an entity-relationship schema, which masks the service implementations. Exploratory interaction is supported by a general-purpose user interface including a set of widgets for data exploration, from big tables to atomic tables, visual diagrams, and geographic maps; the user interaction is translated to queries defined in

Introducing haptic interactions in web application modeling

\mathcal S \hbox {e}\mathcal C \hbox {oQL}

A framework for the development of haptic-enhanced web applications

SeCoQL, a SQL-like language and protocol specifically designed for supporting exploratory search over data sources. We illustrate the software architecture of our prototype, which uses the interplay of a query and result management system with an orchestrator, capable of incrementally building queries and of walking through the past navigation history. The distinctive feature of the framework is the ability to extract top solutions, which combine top-ranked entity instances. We evaluate exploratory search from the end-user perspective in the context of a cognitive model for search, by studying the user’s behavior and the effectiveness of exploratory search in terms of quality of results produced by the search process; we also compare the effectiveness of interaction in using our multi-domain search system with the use of various replicas of the system, each acting upon a single domain, and with the use of conventional search engines.

Usability assessment of a multimodal visual-haptic framework for chemistry education

This article presents a model-driven approach for the design of the layout in a complex Web application, where large amounts of data are accessed. The aim of this work is to reduce, as much as possible, repetitive tasks and to factor out common aspects into different kinds of rules that can be reused across different applications. In particular, exploiting the conceptual elements of the typical models used for the design of a Web application, it defines presentation and layout rules at different levels of abstraction and granularity. A procedure for the automatic layout of the content of a page is proposed and evaluated, and the layout of advanced Web applications is discussed.

A haptic-based framework for chemistry education

Haptic devices, providing tactile feedback to the user, by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions, are becoming a common way of user interaction in several fields of applications, from gaming, to mobile, automotive, etc. This innovative technology could be thought as suitable also for Web navigation in the near future, with haptic devices replacing mice and offering to the user a more immersive way of interaction. In this work we first provide an overview of the characteristics of current haptic technologies. Then, we propose a high-level graphical formalism for the specification of haptic behaviors that can be associated to the objects/widgets of a Web page. Some examples of haptic interaction on the Web and issues in the implementation of an haptic interface for the Web are also provided.

A Haptic-Enhanced System for Molecular Sensing

The science of haptics has received a great attention in the last decade for data visualization and training. In particular haptics can be introduced as a novel technology for educational purposes. The usage of haptic technologies can greatly help to make the students feel sensations not directly experienceable and typically only reported as notions, sometimes also counter-intuitively, in textbooks. In this work, we present a haptically-enhanced system for the tactile exploration of molecules. After a brief description of the architecture of the developed system, the paper describes how it has been introduced in the usual didactic activity by providing a support for the comprehension of concepts typically explained only theoretically. Users feedbacks and impressions are reported as results of this innovation in teaching.

Integrating Haptics in Web Interfaces: State of the Art and Open Issues

In the last years we have witnessed an increasing adoption of haptic devices (allowing the user to feel forces or vibrations) in several fields of applications, from gaming, to mobile, automotive, etc. Some efforts have been done to enhance also Web applications interfaces with haptics, either to improve accessibility or, more in general, to improve usability. Despite the spreading of haptic applications, their development is still a time consuming task that requires significant programming skills. In particular, in the Web context no plug-ins or style extensions are currently available and applications must be developed from scratch. In this paper we describe a framework to easily include haptic interaction in Web applications, focusing both on haptic interaction modeling and on its implementation.

Edge Colorings of the Direct Product of Two Graphs

In this work, we assess the usability of a virtual environment where the force of interaction between the electrostatic field around the molecule and a charge associated to the proxy of a haptic device can be felt. Feedbacks to user are provided in a multimodal visual and haptic way, and auxiliary information are also rendered.