From Search Engines to Augmented Search Services: An End-User Development Approach

Abstract

The World Wide Web is a vast and continuously changing source of information where searching is a frequent, and sometimes critical, user task. Searching is not always the user's primary goal but an ancillary task that is performed to find complementary information allowing to complete another task. In this paper, we explore primary and/or ancillary search tasks and propose an approach for simplifying the user interaction during search tasks. Rather than focusing on dedicated search engines, our approach allows the user to abstract search engines already provided by Web applications into pervasive search services that will be available for performing searches from any other Web site. We also propose to allow users to manage the way in which searching results are displayed and the interaction with them. In order to illustrate the feasibility of this approach, we have built a support tool based on a plug-in architecture that allows users to integrate new search services (created by themselves by means of visual tools) and execute them in the context of both kinds of searches. A case study illustrates the use of these tools. We also present the results of two evaluations that demonstrate the feasibility of the approach and the benefits in its use.

Customizing Websites Through Automatic Web Search

“…Allowing users to adapt content to their needs improves usability [37]. In order to validate if Excore accomplishes its purpose, we have evaluated Excore following the ISO 9241-11 5 . ISO definition of usability (ISO 9241-11, Guidance on Usability) comprises three quality characteristics: effectiveness (whether or not end-users are able to complete successfully the tasks), efficiency (if end-users conclude the assignment with Excore faster than manually) and satisfaction (the opinion of the end-user about Excore).…”

“…With CrowdMock [11], users may define their own requirements (adding and removing content) and share them with the community, who can reproduce, edit and evolve them collaboratively. Bosetti [5] proposes a solution to reduce user interaction during web searches thanks to existing web engines. Chudnoskyy et al [7] take a step forward to create mashups by assisting users with recommendations and automatic composition.…”

End-User Development of Voice User Interfaces Based on Web Content

“…SearchAPI allows end users without programming skills to create search APIs by visually selecting the UI parts of Web applications search engines. In this way, the domain objects that an application offers can be searched by emulating the user interaction [18]. Similar approaches have arisen under the technique called Web augmentation, and it still a promising technology for end-user development [22].…”

Web Augmentation as a Technique to Diminish User Interactions in Repetitive Tasks

“…In addition, it permits them to remove unnecessary web elements and move those elements to other positions on the website. Bosetti [61] proposes a solution to reduce user interaction during web searches using existing web engines. It inserts new content into existing websites with the information provided by these search engines.…”