A study on next‐generation digital library using context‐awareness technology

Abstract

PurposeThis study seeks to examine the concepts of context, context‐awareness, and context‐awareness technology needed for applying context‐awareness technology to the next‐generation of digital libraries, and proposed context‐aware services that can be applied to any situation by illustrating some library contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe paper investigated both theoretical research and case analysis studies before suggesting a service model for context‐awareness‐based libraries by examining the context, context‐awareness, and context‐awareness technology in depth.FindingsThis paper derived possible library services which could be provided if context‐awareness services are implemented by examining and analyzing case studies and systems constructed in other fields. A library‐applied context‐aware system could recognize users entering the library and provide optimal services tailored to each situation for both new and existing users. In addition, the context‐awareness‐based library could provide context‐awareness‐based reference services, context‐awareness‐based loan services, and cater to other user needs in the stacks, research space, and a variety of other information spaces. The context‐awareness‐based library could also recognize users in need of emergency assistance by detecting the user's behavior, movement path, and temperature, etc. Comfort or climate‐control services could provide the user with control of the temperature, humidity, illumination and other environmental elements to fit the circumstances of users, books, and instruments through context‐aware technology.Practical implicationsNext‐generation digital libraries apply new concepts such as semantic retrieval, real‐time web, cloud computing, mobile web, linked data, and context‐awareness. Context‐awareness‐based libraries can provide applied context‐awareness access service, reactive space according to the user's access, applied context‐awareness lobbies, applied context‐awareness reference services, and applied context‐awareness safety services, context‐awareness‐based comfort services and so on.Originality/valueReal instances of libraries applying context‐aware technology are few, according to the investigative results of this study. The study finds that the next‐generation digital library using context‐awareness technology can provide the best possible service for the convenience of its users.

Imagining Library 4.0: Creating a Model for Future Libraries

“…Noh (2013) wrote, in an example of an application of context aware technology to the library, that the library may recognize the user and provide customized service to both new users and existing users.…”

“…Context-aware computing technology is a system designed to search and provide the services that users require in their current situation by analyzing and identifying the available contextual information (the current situation of the user) such as the user's current location, time, people and devices in the vicinity, and the user's behavior and inputted data (Noh, 2013).…”

Hippocrates: A Context-Aware, Collaboration Enabling Search Tool

“…In a study about the digital library of the future (Noh, 2013) several context aware services are suggested based on location sensors of the visitors and their friends for automating the services provided by the library such as recommendations but also for safety issues. These sensor oriented approaches are dominated in the context aware searching systems as presented in the study performed by Hon et al (Hong, Suh, & Kim, 2009).…”

Library3.0 for Public Library

“…Table 2. Summary of library3.0/3.1 principles, attributes, and applied context-awareness (adapted from kwanya et al, 2013 [25]; noh, 2013 [26]; siemens, 2004 [15]; and hussain, 2012 [21]).…”