IR Interface

Strategic Help in User Interfaces for Information Retrieval.
by: Brajnik, Giorgio ; Mizzaro, Stefano ; Tasso, Carlo ; Venuti, Fabio

Source:
Brajnik, G., et. al. (2002). Strategic Help in User Interfaces for Information Retrieval. Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, 53(5), Retrieved July 23, 2009 from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=6645212&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Abstract
The article is about the use of strategic help by collaborative coaching in a knowledge based system named FIRE. Strategic help aims to guide the users find relative documents about their query. The study shows that, with the help of strategic help, the users was able to find documents related to their query. Strategic help also made their searching faster and it gave the users different searching method.

What I have Learned?
1. In an information retrieval system the interface should help the user solve the problem at hand.
2. I have learned that it is better if the interface of an information retrieval system could give the user some form of advice on how to maximize their search.
3. i have learned that the interface of an information retrieval system should be able to give the users different ways to search the information database.

Implication:
it is true that searching an information retrieval system(IRS) could be very difficult, specially if the user is not familiar with it. It is also frustrating for the user, if after sometime, he/she will not be able to retrieve the information he/she is looking for. IN my work, I have encountered several students who, despite their use of the library system, was not able to find the information they need. If this kind of system can be implemented in the library this could help the researchers retrieve the information they need. This type of system could make the researcher go to the library instead of consulting google for theie information need.