Are WE Be …TRADeITIONAL or Not?

Title: Web Information Retrieval. Introduction to Modern Retrieval System. 18, 331-351
Author: Chowdhury, G. G. (2001)
Publisher: Library Association

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ABSTRACT:

Introduction of World Wide Web brought significant changes in the way information are accessed. Web became a huge collection of web pages around the world linked through internet. The development of web browser, particularly the Mosaic, allowed the users to access the web resources through point-and-click graphical manipulation. Traditional information retrieval techniques that had been developed are put into test and modified to fit the requirement for indexing and retrieving web documents.

Web information retrieval holds prominent differences from traditional text retrieval that stems in some typical web characteristics such as: distributed architecture, variety of information available, security and authorship, its growth and the distribution of information and users. Variety of information resources from this are published by anyone and so considered diverse in forms and security, and ought to be tracked for any changes and be evaluated scholarly by researchers for the proper implementation of changes on the information retrieval system.

Information from web are represented in different languages since it ties on different places and people all over the world. Some resources from this are directly viewable from web browser and accessible through search engines, while some are not, due to access security and download requirements, hence, the information from here are more difficult to index, locate and retrieve----- more complex when created using different platforms; unlike in a traditional text retrieval system that is smaller in volume since it focus on specific community and interest, and bound on specific database depending on the needs of the institution or clientele community.

Generally, Web Information Retrieval System are far more complex and different than traditional information retrieval systems in the aspects of its retrieval system requirement and facility capabilities, as a result, these resources necessitate thorough evaluation and analysis by before its utilization with the consideration on clientele or user schemes on query construction and search, as well as their capabilities in learning the wide area of web and its facilities.

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED:

Knowledge on web use as well as the different search engines available is helpful to individual who wants a wide array of information resources. With the aid of Boolean operators on query construction and search, the eager and interested user can adequately maximize the capabilities and function of the search engine information retrieval interface.

Information professionals and specialist like us, plays vital role in the organization and access of information resources on web. We, us information specialists should keep ourselves abreast of these changes on web and rekindle our knowledge on informations around us.

Individuals who use information from web should do keen evaluations of the resources they access so that they would know which among those sites or resources has more credible and up-to-date information.

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IMPLICATIONS:

I usually use Yahoo or Google in any search that I need do, whether just for leisure or for research reference. Like most of researchers of information resources on web, I use natural language—usually I just searched using key words or sentences; sometimes with Boolean operators. I have used the advance search just recently.

I, myself, I am not that familiar with the other features of Google and Yahoo that’s why it was overwhelming to know that there are lots of things about these search engines and directory that I am still not aware of. And that we also have other search engines that are more specialized.

If I would create a précis of the nature and essence of Web and Traditional Text Information Retrieval System, and each information retrieval, I would summarize its points in form of the images shown above.

Based on images shown above…

You could decipher that, like a spider web , web branches everywhere around the world. Every information resources are linked through the internet. The users then key-in its search query (represented as question marks on the image above) on the search engine or directory; control and manipulates its word or phrase search based on his or her information needs.

The recall results of the resources retrieved depends primarily on how these resources are indexed and made accessible by its owner or publisher--hence, whether the user provides the most simple keyword search if it did not match the term indexed, the material has no use—it cannot be retrieved and can be valued as not relevant. During the resource retrieval, accessed documents could be something easily accessible (represented by green area on web); useful and credible (represented by yellow area on web) while some have restrictions (represented by red area on web), empty and useless (represented by black, and white area on web).

Like a spider web, with its invisible and invincible strands that could reached anywhere ------ no one would really know what and who’s going to be trapped by it. Only the web or information publishers who know its purpose could actually demystify its nature of existence. As for the information retrieved, some information maybe good and palatable, while some can be considered as ghastly and some are considered useless. There sometimes there is no security of information since everyone can publish information on web (although a thorough knowledge on programming languages like html, java script or sql would be essential before they could actually produce a good site for it).

When a traditional textual retrieval system and web based information retrieval system are put side by side---- we may liken the former to an ART EXHIBIT, and the later as a FUN FAIR. Traditional textual retrieval system as an ART EXHIBIT--- has specific audience and theme, some are fee-based but mostly the new ones ( those done by new exhibitor artists) are accessible for free. Web Based retrieval system is like a FUN FAIR--- the entrance or access is free as long as you have the resource or equipment required. Once you’re inside you’re still not sure if you can access and avail of everything because majority are not for free.. Although it is entirely meant for public audience still it is profit based. Services and resources included here varies—---Some are worth the fun and money, some are scary, some are just there to occupy an ounce of space and of no use.

With the use of Web IRS, like in a Fun fair.. we learn to gamble on things that is there.. we are not accurately sure what we are going to get from there, as for the Traditional IRS, you use it because you know that you can directly get something from it since it is intended to answer your field and interest needs.

But the catch here is that, for both IR Systems…

the AUDIENCE still has the last say, if he or she would like or use what he got from there, hence, the “Relevance or essence of that system” would still depend on the clienteles of those services---- Whether it would just be....

...a Waste of Effort for clienteles and Budget for the institution, the clientele is still the one who will decide on how these could be a Wealthy-wise Environment for Bites of information from a Wishful Expedient for Burgeoning,

...and reach a verdict if… WE Be TRADeTIONAL or Not.

BOOLEAN SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL

BOOLEAN SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL

Title: Boolean Searching. Understanding computers: today and tomorrow.
Author: Morley, D. & Parker, C. (2007)
Publisher: Thomson

Title: Computerized information searching. How to find information in science and technology. 4, 51-71.
Author: Lambert, J. & Lambert, P. (1991)
Publisher: Library Association

Title: Searching and Retrieval. Introduction to Modern Retrieval System. 4, 170-191
Author: Chowdhury, G. G. (2001)
Publisher: Library Association

Title of Article: Beyond recall and Precision: From System – Oriented to User- Oriented Evaluation
Author: Hersh, William (retrieved June 26 ’08)
URL: http://davinci.ohsu.edu/~hersh/user-studies.pdf

Title: Information Technology. 2006 Board Review for Librarians, 6-10.
Author: Esposo, S. S. (2006)
Publisher: Institute of Library and Information Science

ABSTRACT:

One of the most important skills for internet searchers today is to how successfully they can search for information on the internet. But since most people are keen to search for specific information on the internet, often than not, most of the useful information available online is not utilized because it could not be found in time of need. However, Boolean operators aided to make these information retrievable, it is use as part of the search strategy for accessing this vast array of information.

Boolean is use to further specify what a search engine to find. Its rule varies from search sites. It plays an important role in the coordination of the search concepts. Results relevancy to the concept being searched varies, basically, results can be too narrow or too broad depending on how concepts are presented. With the use of Boolean operators, search results could focus solely on one concept excluding the other concept (NOT logic), could retrieve all relevant concepts (AND logic), or relevant documents on either of the two concepts (OR logic). Other online search sites uses (+) for AND, and (-) for NOT.

An effective search strategy is feasible through user’s knowledge of concept keywords (its synonyms and word variant forms), and the application of Boolean operator.

THINGS I LEARNED:

Knowledge of the effective search strategy is a must for a researcher. And knowing at least the basics of Boolean operators is a great advantage, and could help minimize the cost of searching.

However, although the Boolean searching is widely used in keyword searches on most computer- based and online – based system, it still has its limitations especially with regard to the retrieved references ---most searches resulted to high recall but low precision. And at the end of the search process, no matter how extent the information retrieved was , the user is still the one who decides which material among the retrieved relevant by the system are said to be relevant based on his own evaluation.

But in some cases that although the clientele is familiar with the Boolean operators, clienteles understanding about the concept that need to be searched, is still the major influencing factor on the search process since the user is the one providing the key concepts. The Boolean operator functions only as connectors that coordinate the concepts provided by the users.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW THINGS I LEARNED:

Through the readings i have learned to appreciate more the importance of having knowledge in Boolean operators for information specialist like me.

The fluency with concepts of data being searched conjunct with Boolean knowledge, is a great advantage for individuals working in a library to immediately assist their clienteles on doing web-based research, and other computer based system search. And also, in a user-based system set-up, providing an accurate constructed query statement (with the aid of Boolean operators) could help limit the time cost needed for just searching for relevant references from various search sites.

Based from what I have often experienced when doing keyword or phrase searches in online- based systems, I often re-do the search because most of the hits does not match what information I need, thus, I use Boolean operators in order to find at least more relevant references that matches my search query. I can say that knowledge on these search operators definitely helped me in adapting with the challenges presented today by the modern information retrieval systems.

MODERN INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

MODERN INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
Inside a Computer: How it Works?

Title: Discovering computers: a gateway to information
Author: Shelly, G. B. (2007)
Publisher: Library Association

Title: Searching and Retrieval. Introduction to Modern Retrieval System. 4, 170-191
Author: Chowdhury, G. G. (2001)
Publisher: Library Association

Title: Information Technology. 2006 Board Review for Librarians, 6-10.
Author: Esposo, S. S. (2006)
Publisher: Institute of Library and Information Science

ABSTRACT:

The process of searching starts with the user’s construction of his/her query statement based on his/her search topic and then narrow it down into concepts. But prior to the searching process, user should have at least idea on the measures to be taken during the search process. And then during the input of search query (keywords are determined, and Boolean operators are use on the search query), all symbols, images and other details are converted into binary digits (0s and 1s) in order for it to be understood and processed by the computer. Query statements that are gathered are converted and instructed in a computer through the input devices, and then the data are processed and manipulated in the CPU which controls the other parts of the computer systems while the microprocessor speeds up the process and retrieval of the information.

Once query statement is entered into the system, the computer is then instructed to find all the references in the database about the search concept. The Boolean operators play an important role during the search process.; it in the coordination of the search concepts----- with user’s familiarity of the keyword synonyms and use the Boolean operators the number of relevant document retrieved varies, it depends on how the search statement is being constructed. The results now can be too narrow or too broad, it could focus solely on one concept excluding the other concept (NOT logic), could retrieve all relevant concepts (AND logic), or relevant documents on either of the two concepts (OR logic). In an online based system, the search processing involves several communication devices that allow the transfer of information searched from one network to another; these communication devices are also the one responsible for connecting on databases that matches the concept being searched through host computers. The search results are then translated into language that human can understand, as output, and viewed through computer screens, printers, and other output devices.

3 THINGS I LEARNED:

First, unlike before that average person did not need to know how to use a computer, now, knowledge in computers is must to all professionals since we use it to get hold of information, evaluation of it, and to communicate it with other people.

Second, computers provided a great ease in the work processes involve in our daily life. It speeds – up most of the operations involve in our work. Hence, at present, you can already consider computer as part of commodity, especially for the academic and business community.
Lastly, since development in technology is very fast, we as information professionals should be kept informed with the use and technical aspects of these technologies, such as: knowing the different components of computers involve in information processing, because we are using it to provide and improve services for our clienteles.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW THINGS I LEARNED:

Since the development and upgrades in computers is very fast, we should have familiarize ourselves with the components of computers so we could specifically identify which components need to be repaired or upgrade at times when we experienced technical problems with our computers. Although we can learn computers without knowing its technical aspects, still knowledge of its technical aspects is an advantage; knowing something about the computer can help us find and buy the right computer for our needs, and be able to maximize its use.