Visual information seeking

Abstract

The present study reports on the information seeking processes in a visual context, referred to throughout as visual information seeking. This study synthesizes research throughout different, yet complementary, areas, each capable of contributing findings and understanding to visual information seeking. Methods previously applied for examining the visual information seeking process are reviewed, including interactive experiments, surveys, and various qualitative approaches. The methods and resulting findings are presented and structured according to generalized phases of existing information seeking models, which include the needs, actions, and assessments of users. A review of visual information needs focuses on need and thus query formulation; user actions, as reviewed, centers on search and browse behaviors and the observed trends, concluded by a survey of users' assessments of visual information as part of the interactive process. This separate examination, specific to a visual context, is significant; visual information can influence outcomes in an interactive process and presents variations in the types of needs, tasks, considerations, and decisions of users, as compared to information seeking in other contexts.

Exploring the context of visual information seeking

“…Nevertheless, there is not a strong consensus on what constitutes a context, and what relationships exist between individuals' information seeking and its context (Chang and Lee, 2001). The importance of context in information-seeking behaviour and the information retrieval (IR) (Kelly, 2006) as well as the importance of understanding information seeking and retrieval within different contexts has been emphasised in a large number of previous studies as Albertson (2015) reported. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how users interact with visual search interfaces.…”

A systematic literature review on image information needs and behaviors

“…Similarly, Albertson (2015) argues that future studies should investigate how visual information can be used to enhance users' literacy. Due to its multidimensional nature, visual information may have the potential to advance other information and collaborative processes (Albertson, 2015).…”

“…Similarly, Albertson (2015) argues that future studies should investigate how visual information can be used to enhance users' literacy. Due to its multidimensional nature, visual information may have the potential to advance other information and collaborative processes (Albertson, 2015). Looking at how image information is utilized in these different information contexts from a holistic view, in addition to looking at specific image retrieval scenarios and tasks, will expand the current image information research to a universal level.…”

Billedindeksering og sociale medier

“…brugerens arbejde, behov og forskningsområde. (Enser et al, 2007;Andre et al, 2009;Chung and Yoon, 2011;Yoon, 2011b;Reilly and Thompson, 2014;Albertson, 2015) Konkluderende ses der ikke store forandringer i forskningsfokus i artiklerne. Litteraturoversigten viser dog, at billedindeksering nu også inkluderer modeller, motivation for tagging, crowdsourcing, redigering af klassifikationssystemer og tesaurusser, som også har betydet en øget brugerinvolvering i indekseringsprocessen.…”