Ilvio Bruder

GETESS - Searching the Web Exploiting German Texts

We present an intelligent information agent that uses semantic methods and natural language processing capabilites in order to gather tourist information from theWWWand present it to the human user in an intuitive, user-friendly way. Thereby, the information agent is designed such that as background knowledge and linguistic coverage increase, its benefits improve, while it guarantees state-of-the-art information and database retrieval capabilities as its bottom line.

A system for facilitating and enhancing web search

We present a system that uses semantic methods and natural language processing capabilites in order to provide comprehensive and easy-to-use access to tourist information in the WWW. Thereby, the system is designed such that as background knowledge and linguistic coverage increase, the benefits of the system improve, while it guarantees state-of-the-art information and database retrieval capabilities as its bottom line.

A mobile tourist assistance and recommendation system based on complex networks

In recent years, the tourism assistance community is gradually shifting its emphasis to digital, interactive systems. Our project aims for digital tourism assistance by combining mobile guiding and route recommendation based on community networks. We use complex networks to tackle problems, such as deriving optimal routes in conjunction with knowledge deduced from our social tourist network, and giving a respectable prediction of which meta- and multimedia data about touristic objects are needed while the tourist is on tour. This article describes ongoing work on the recommendation system and mobile semantic replication strategies.

GETESS: Constructing a Linguistic Search Index for an Internet Search Engine

In this paper, we illustrate how Internet documents can be automatically analyzed in order to capture the content of a document in a more detailed manner than usual. The result of the document analysis is called an abstract, and will it be used as a linguistic search index for the Internet search engine, GETESS. We show how the linguistic analysis system SMES can be used with a Harvest-based search engine for constructing a linguistic search index. Further, we denote how the linguistic index can be exploited for answering user search inquiries.

Towards a Digital Document Archive for Historical Handwritten Music Scores

Contemporary digital libraries and archives of music scores focus mainly on providing efficient storage and access methods for their data. However, digital archives of historical music scores can enable musicologists not only to easily store and access research material, but also to derive new knowledge from existing data. In this paper we present the first steps in building a digital archive of historical music scores from the 17th and 18th century. Along with the architectural and accessibility aspects of the system, we describe an integrated approach for classification and identification of the scribes of music scores.

Query transformation of SQL into XQuery within federated environments

Federated information systems integrate various heterogeneous autonomic databases and information systems. Queries respect to the federation have to be translated into the local query language and must be transformed with respect to the local data model. This paper deals with the problem of a global query according to an object-relational federation service. This SQL query is to be translated into an equivalent XQuery expression, so that it can be processed by the corresponding XML component database system according to the local schema.

Towards a digital archive for handwritten paper slips with ethnological contents

Contemporary digital libraries and archives of ethnological information focus mainly on document based storage and access methods for their data. However, our archive is designed to manage smallest pieces of information and can enable ethnologists not only to easily store and access their material, but also to derive new knowledge by combining existing data. In this paper, we present the first steps in building a digital archive for paper slips with ethnological contents from the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Along with the architectural and accessibility aspects of the WossiDiA system, we describe enhancements for efficient retrieval and for supporting modifications to access structures.

Utilizing a multimedia UML framework for an image database application

To support the design of data models for multimedia applications, we employ the concept of a framework introduced in object-oriented design. We define a UML framework, which can be used for deriving application-specific multimedia database models. With the UML framework, we define the core elements of a multimedia database model, such as mediatype- and application-independent structure, content, relationships and operations. Thereby, the advantages of using UML for representing multimedia data as well as shortcomings of this approach are discussed. Furthermore, we describe the utilization of the UML framework for the instantiation of a model for an image database of scanned handwritten music scores.

Enabling flexible integration of healthcare information using the entity-attribute-value storage model

BackgroundFor an optimal care of patients in home healthcare, it is essential to exchange healthcare-related information with other stakeholders. Unfortunately, paper-based documentation procedures as well as the heterogeneity between information systems inhibit a well-regulated communication. Therefore, a digital patient care record is introduced to establish the foundation for integrating healthcare-related information.MethodsFor the digital patient care record, suitable integration techniques are required that store data in a compact way and offer flexibility as well as robustness. For this purpose, a generic storage structure based on the entity-attribute-value (EAV) model is introduced. This storage structure fulfills the stated requirements and incoming information can be stored directly without any loss of data.Evaluation Results and DiscussionsFirst performance tests regarding the query response time are given in this paper. The tests measured the connection time, the query execution time, and the time for traversing the result set. The time for executing the query is lowest. The time for traversing the results strongly depends on the number of documents. A concept comparison to other integration techniques is also presented.ConclusionsThis approach offers flexibility concerning different standard types and the evolution in healthcare knowledge and processes. It also allows for highly sparse data to be stored in a compact way. The underlying database structure is presented, the import process for extracting incoming reports is described and the export process for generating new outgoing standardized reports is briefly illustrated.

Towards an Open Source Screen Reader: Screenreader Usability Extensions (SUE)

More and more educational institutions, authorities, and companies adopt open source software, especially Linux. Unfortunately, at the moment, no Linux based screen reader provides adequate and sufficient functionality as the ones of Windows. This means that visually impaired people are disadvantaged in the labour market. The focus of the project is the development of a screen reader for the graphical interface using Linux. The screen reader will allow the visually impaired to work with Linux for typical office tasks and the desktop (GNOME) itself. A special training course will instruct teachers and pupils at institutions for the blind and the partially sighted in using the screen reader. The content of the programme is based on the 7 modules of the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence).