A translating computer interface for a network of heterogeneous interactive information retrieval systems

Marcus, Richard S.

doi:10.1145/951762.951763

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A detailed description of the organization and operation of the rules has been given in previous reports [32,33]. To illustrate the nature of the rule operations, a few sample rules are listed and described in the Appendix.…”

Section: As One Aspect Of This Investigation a Model Was Developedmentioning

confidence: 99%

A translating computer interface for end‐user operation of heterogeneous retrieval systems. I. Design

Marcus

Reintjes

1981

J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Online retrieval systems may be difficult to use, especially by end users, because of heterogeneity and complexity. Investigations have concerned the concept of a translating computer interface as a means to simplify access to, and operation of, heterogeneous bibliographic retrieval systems and databases. The interface allows users to make requests in a common language. These requests are translated by the interface into the appropriate commands for whatever system is being interrogated. System responses may also be transformed by the interface into a common form before being given to the users. Thus, the network of different systems is made to look like a single "virtual" system to the user. The interface also provides instruction and other search aids for the user. The philosophy, design, and implementation of an experimental interface named CONIT are described.

show abstract

Section: As One Aspect Of This Investigation a Model Was Developedmentioning

confidence: 99%

A translating computer interface for end‐user operation of heterogeneous retrieval systems. I. Design

Marcus

Reintjes

1981

J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some of these usages were on versions of CONIT earlier than the CONIT 3 system described in Part I. Results from some of these earlier uses have been previously described [2]. Other usages of the experimental interface were of an informal nature; they also provided valuable information and insight on the nature of the interface system, but the results lacked the definiteness of carefully controlled experiments.…”

Section: B the Experimental Users And Their Iriformation Needsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of course, phrase searches are generally inapplicable on the other database needed for highrecall, Science Citation Index, which had no controlled-vocabulary indexing at all. To further illustrate the confusion for users, consider these facts: (1) the corresponding phrase in SSIE is "hearing loss and deafness"; (2) in NTIS and Physics Abstracts, "hearing loss" is a (relatively infrequently posted) free-vocabulary (identifier) phrase; and (3) in Language Abstracts, the phrase "hearing loss" is listed without postings as a related term to "hearing disorders." The incomplete carryaver among controlled vocabularies is analyzed in the Battelle study [7] on vocabulary switching.…”

Section: Keyword/stem Searchingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A translating computer interface for end‐user operation of heterogeneous retrieval systems. II. Evaluations

Marcus

Reintjes

1981

J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The evaluation of the concept of a translating computer interface for simplifying operation of multiple, heterogeneous online bibliographic retrieval systems has been undertaken. An experimental retrieval system, named CONIT, was built and tested under controlled conditions with inexperienced end users. A detailed analysis of the experimental usages showed that users were able to master interface operation sufficiently well to find relevant document references. Success was attributed, in part, to a simple command language, adequate online instruction, and a simplified naturallanguage, keywordhtem approach to searching. It is concluded that operational interfaces of the type studied can provide for increased usability of existing systems in a cost effective manner, especially for inexperienced end users who cannot easily avail themselves of expert intermediary searchers. Furthermore, more advanced interfaces based on improved instruction and automated search strategy techniques could further enhance retrieval effectiveness for a wide class of users.

show abstract

“…Another project described by Marcus (1973) is being carried out at MIT which deals with the translation problem of a network of heterogeneous interactive information retrieval systems.…”

Section: Some E X I S T I N G Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

A semi-automatic data base translation system for achieving data sharing in a network environment

Su¹,

Lam²

1976

Proceedings of the 1976 ACM SIGFIDET (Now SIGMOD) Workshop on Data Description, Access and Control - FIDET '76

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper deals with the problems of data base translation for achieving data sharing through a computer network.A semiautomatic data base translation procedure and its prototype implementation are described.The procedure takes advantage of data conversion capabilities already existing in programming languages and I/O control systems and of man-machine interaction to achieve data base translation tasks.The user of one system is allowed to browse, retrieve, edit, format and restructure the data acquired on-line from another system to produce a new data base suitable for his own application programs.The procedure attempts to bypass the complex task of formally describing and translating several levels of data representation commonly undertaken in the existing data base translation systems.

show abstract

A translating computer interface for a network of heterogeneous interactive information retrieval systems

Abstract: The need for a network of heterogeneous interactive bibliographic information retrieval systems is projected from the facts of wide acceptance and growing demand for these systems and the limitations of their use caused by limited online data base size.

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

A translating computer interface for end‐user operation of heterogeneous retrieval systems. I. Design

A translating computer interface for end‐user operation of heterogeneous retrieval systems. I. Design

A translating computer interface for end‐user operation of heterogeneous retrieval systems. II. Evaluations

A semi-automatic data base translation system for achieving data sharing in a network environment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About