At 10:50 AM 12/13/2007, Eric Lease Morgan wrote:
>On Dec 12, 2007, at 6:16 PM, Ranti Junus wrote:
>
>>Seriously, Eric's post below gave some nice ideas and the term
>>"context management" popped in my head for some reason.
>
>
>
>The phrase "context management" brought a smile to my face, and while
>I did not use that phrase in a previous essay, and I think, with
>Ranti's permission, I will use it in the future. In a presentation
>for the Charleston Conference I wrote about the future of search and
>used the word "context" a couple of times:
>
> The future of search lies in: 1) the enhancement of the discovery
> process, and 2) providing services against collections beyond
> simple identify.
>
> Putting the users' needs and characteristics at the center of the
> query process will greatly enhance the discovery process. By
> knowing more about the searcher -- placing the query in context
> with the searcher -- it will be possible to improve find
> significantly. For example, if you know the searcher is a
> freshman, then it is safe to assume their experience or knowledge
> is less than a senior's and therefore a different set of
> resources may be appropriate for their needs. Search can take
> experience into account and present results accordingly. Suppose
> the searcher is an expert in anthropology but are searching for
> information on micro-economics. Given this it is unlikely the
> searcher will want advanced micro-economic data, at least not
> right away. Present the results accordingly. Assume the searcher
> has a history of doing many micro-economic searches. Either they
> are not finding what they desire or they are looking for more
> specific information. Return search results accordingly. Put
> another way, ask yourself questions about the searcher and modify
> the results. Who are they? What is their level of skill or
> education? Are they new to the subject or an expert? Who are
> their peers and what are they using? Use those resources as a
> guide. Do they want help? To what degree to they desire privacy?
> By knowing the answers to these sorts of questions search results
> can be tailored to meet individual needs; search can be put into
> the user's context.
>
> http://www.library.nd.edu/daiad/morgan/musings/future-of-search/
>
>"Context management". I like that! ranti.junus++
This wonderful quote raises all sorts of interesting
possibilities--as well as issues. One reaction I have is that I
personally react negatively to the way companies I use have profiled
me. Typically it is done without my permission, without involving me
in any way, and without explaining to me the profiling methodology.
If I am to be profiled to help the search service give me more
relevant results, I would prefer to be asked permision, to be
involved in the profiling choices and criteria being made, and to
have an explanation of how the process works. Maybe I want the
search service to treat me as a senior for a particular session--or
as a lawyer or even a lover of romance novels.
David
>--
>Eric Lease Morgan
>University Libraries of Notre Dame
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Received on Thu Dec 13 2007 - 13:33:01 EST