Martin Brooks

Visualization schemes for domain novices exploring a topic space: the navigation classification scheme

In this article and two other articles which conceptualize a future stage of the research program (Leide, Cole, Large, & Beheshti, submitted for publication; Cole, Leide, Large, Beheshti, & Brooks, in preparation), we map-out a domain novice users encounter with an IR system from beginning to end so that appropriate classification-based visualization schemes can be inserted into the encounter process. This article describes the visualization of a navigation classification scheme only. The navigation classification scheme uses the metaphor of a ship and ships navigator traveling through charted (but unknown to the user) waters, guided by a series of lighthouses. The lighthouses contain mediation interfaces linking the user to the information store through agents created for each. The users agent is the cognitive, model the user has of the information space, which the system encourages to evolve via interaction with the systems agent. The systems agent is an evolving classification scheme created by professional indexers to represent the structure of the information store. We propose a more systematic, multidimensional approach to creating evolving classification/indexing schemes, based on where the user is and what she is trying to do at that moment during the search session.

Interactive graphical queries for bibliographic search

This article presents Islands, an interactive graphical interface for construction, modification, and management of queries during a search session on a bibliographic database. The Islands interface is compared to the Dialog Interface on a search of the INSPEC database.

Putting it together online: Information need identification for the domain novice user

Domain novice users in the beginning stages of researching a topic find themselves searching for information via information retrieval (IR) systems before they have identified their information need. Pre-Internet access technologies adapted by current IR systems poorly serve these domain novice users, whose behavior might be characterized as rudderless and without a compass. In this article we describe a conceptual design for an information retrieval system that incorporates standard information need identification classification and subject cataloging schemes, called the INIIReye System, and a study that tests the efficacy of the innovative part of the INIIReye System, called the Associative Index. The Associative Index helps the user put together his or her associative thoughts - Vannevar Bushs idea of associative indexing for his Memex machine that he never actually described. For the first time, data from the study reported here quantitatively supports the theoretical notion that the information seekers information need is identified through transformation of his/her knowledge structure (i.e., the seekers cognitive map or perspective on the task for which information is being sought).

Eucalyptus: intelligent infrastructure enabled participatory design studio

A new notion of participation is at stake with advances in technologically mediated work environments. Insufficient bandwidth and insufficiently powerful, crudely coordinated tools resulted in distributed task-based modes of collaboration that did not allow full participation by members of distributed design teams. The emergence of service oriented architectures (SOA) and user-controlled light-paths (UCLP) herald the beginning of a new age where fully participatory multi-site design may become possible. While most service-oriented solutions are developed for gluing systems or data together, the participatory design studio (PDS) Eucalyptus is developed to manage and configure the resources needed by users engaging in a participatory design session, such as a videoconference application, and a visualization server. Harnessing the power of UCLP, Eucalyptus strives to provide a set of upper layer services for non-technical users to provision devices and applications running on high-speed broadband networks, in addition to conventional TCP/IP networks

On Demand Network and Application Provisioning ThroughWeb Services

While most service-oriented solutions are developed for system integration or data integration, we propose a Web services-based solution, Eucalyptus, for provisioning applications and networks on demand. Eucalyptus is built on the power of the user-controlled lightpath provisioning (UCLP) tool, which pioneers a user-centric and service-oriented approach for creating and managing a private end-to-end optical network. As a first user of UCLP, Eucalyptus aims to construct an participatory environment for geographically distributed teams of architects and industrial designers with the with the support of configurable broadband switched networks, as well as the traditional routed IP networks. The contribution of Eucalyptus is to provide a proof-of-concept example on how Web service and service-oriented architecture (SoA) can effectively provide on-demand provisioning for heterogenous resources in hybrid networks. These resources can be provisioned, launched, monitored, terminated, and reserved through Web services. Eucalyptus is network and platform neutral. It offers a single point of entry for users to access resources ranging from video conference applications, rendering clusters, to the underlying networks. Each resource is configured through a resource-specific Web service. Eucalyptus also includes a set of generic management Web services to coordinate sessions, to manage resources and users, and to compose workflows, such that the network and the application are properly configured for the users engaging in a participatory design session.

An optimal linear time algorithm for quasi-monotonic segmentation

Monotonicity is a simple yet significant qualitative characteristic. We consider the problem of segmenting an array in up to K segments. We want segments to be as monotonic as possible and to alternate signs. We propose a quality metric for this problem, present an optimal linear time algorithm based on novel formalism, and compare experimentally its performance to a linear time top-down regression algorithm. We show that our algorithm is faster and more accurate. Applications include pattern recognition and qualitative modeling.

Evaluation factors for multi-stakeholder broadband visual communication projects

The paper presents a summary of multifaceted evaluation factors that we have identified through our research with Broadband Visual Communication (BVC) projects involving multiple stakeholders. The main benefit of these evaluation factors is that they provide a general evaluation framework for multiple stakeholder projects. The factors are social infrastructure, technical infrastructure, physical space, interaction style and content.

A broadband web-based application for video sharing and annotation

This demonstration reports on the current stage of development of a web-based environment to support video sharing and annotation. The initial requirements and their implementation are briefly presented. The application is aimed at supporting the professional development of teachers with a multimedia application over a broadband network. However, work with teachers has pointed us to new requirements, differentiating VSA from prrevious work. Continued work with teachers will lead to further evolution of VSA.

An optimal linear time algorithm for quasi-monotonic segmentation1

Monotonicity is a simple yet significant qualitative characteristic. We consider the problem of segmenting an array in up to K segments. We want segments to be as monotonic as possible and to alternate signs. We propose a quality metric for this problem, present an optimal linear time algorithm based on novel formalism, and compare experimentally its performance to a linear time top-down regression algorithm. We show that our algorithm is faster and more accurate. Applications include pattern recognition and qualitative modeling.

Towards an Agile Infrastructure to Provision Devices, Applications, and Networks: A Service-oriented Approach

Most industries and organizations use collections of tools, devices, and applications that are growing in complexity. New tools or applications may be acquired and old tools may become obsolete over time. They are often running on a variety of platforms, have different bandwidth and QoS requirements, and in most cases they cannot be accessed through a single point of entry. Moreover, some tools may require specific configurations done by technical experts. To address these issues, we propose an extensible, reliable, and simple software architecture that can hide the complexity of provisioning the network and running the tools. This paper introduces a service-oriented approach for creating an agile infrastructure to provision devices, applications, and their underlying networks. The Eucalyptus prototype is developed as an empirical application to test this approach. Eucalyptus is built on a set of generic fine-grained Web services to manage and configure available resources, where new resources can be custom-built or imported from a third party. They can be integrated into Eucalyptus using a set of Web service-enabled APIs. Our user community consists of architects and industrial designers. Eucalyptus can manage and configure the resources needed by geographically distributed groups of architects who need to collaborate in real time on the design of buildings, in a virtual participatory design studio (PDS). Eucalyptus provides a single point of entry for the architects to access a wide variety of tools: videoconference applications, visualization services, rendering services employing parallel computers, etc. Eucalyptus provides a set of upper layer services for users to provision devices and applications running on high-speed broadband networks, as well as the commercial IP networks.