Navigating documents using ontologies, taxonomies and folksonomies

ABSTRACT

Navigating computer-based information landscapes can be a challenging task for humans in almost any knowledge domain. Most documentation spaces are large, complex and ever-changing, which creates a significant cognitive burden on the end-user. Effective tool support can help orient the user and guide them to an appropriate place in the information space. In our research, we have been investigating how visualization tools can support navigation by leveraging the standard and folk classification systems that are embedded in information spaces. We have focused on two specific domains where navigating information can pose challenges: medical informatics and software engineering.

Within the domain of medical informatics, we have designed a visualization tool that supports the exploration and comparison of a set of clinical trials. The navigational support offered to the user is customized according to an ontology that describes the trial designs. For software engineers, we have developed a tool that generates "navigational waypoints" from informal tagging in software documents. These waypoints provide a way for the software engineer to create "tours" through the space of software documents. In our current work, we are now exploring how adaptive visualization tools may leverage both structured and unstructured information in providing navigational support. We believe that both kinds of information when presented in a coherent visual manner will lead to more effective cognitive support for users as they browse, query and search integrated knowledge spaces.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Graphical user interfaces (GUI)

General Terms:
Documentation

Keywords:
document navigation, folksonomies, ontologies, taxonomies, visualization, waypoints