IL33520 - VISUAL INFORMATION RETREIVAL

Module Identifier

IL33520

Module Title

VISUAL INFORMATION RETREIVAL

Academic Year

2005/2006

Co-ordinator

To Be Arranged

Semester

Intended for use in future years

Next year offered

N/A

Next semester offered

N/A

Other staff

Dr Allen E Foster

Pre-Requisite

IL31620

Course delivery

Lecture

Practical

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Assessment of visual information seeking systems 3000 words	60%
Semester Assessment	Reflect on the value of visualisation for different audiences. (2000 words).	40%
Supplementary Assessment	Resubmission of failed coursework

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of different Visualisation techniques in the context of information retrieval

Evaluate applications for visualisation techniques in IR/IS.

Assess the advantages and disadvantages of these methods for users and information suppliers.

Evaluate the effect of use individual differences and learning styles on the the value and usability of visualisation in IR/IS systems

Explain the basic methods used in the creation of visual information retrieval systems

Evaluate the practical issues of different types of visualisation method.

Brief description

To visualize: "to form a mental vision, image, or picture of (something not visible or present to sight, or of an abstraction); to make visible to the mind or imagination"[The Oxford English Dictionary, 1989]. At last technology is offering some practical opportunities to allow realtime information retrieval to use visual cues as a presentation method. This module aims to introduce the concept of visualisation in information retrieval and to enable students to identify visual IR systems and methods, to assess the applications of visualisation in IR and other fields, to relate this to theory, research and practice.

Content

1. Overview of Visualisation within the Information Retrieval and Information Seeking field.
2. Identify applications of visualisation and examples of current implementations. Including the uses of visualisation as a tool for presenting Text, WWW results, and other data.
3. Navigating and Interacting with visual information systems, including advantages and disadvantages of Visualisation for IR/IS.
4. Consideration of the influence of learning and cognitive styles upon effectiveness of these systems.
5. Practical issues in visualisation: animation, quality, technologies, access, training etc.
6. Evaluating systems and methods.

Module Skills

Problem_solving	Related to development of understanding and relation of this to detailed explanation of visualisation techniques
Research skills	Preparation for coursework will involve basic information gathering techniques and summative skills
Communication	Presentation by written formal report.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Self reflection will be encouraged as part of the process of understanding the value of visual IR/IS systems.
Team work	Some element of team work within practicals may be included.
Information Technology	IT and Software skills are at the heart of developing knowledge in this field.
Application of Number	Incidental to the module, but topics will introduce areas of data manipulation and algorithms.
Personal Development and Career planning	Not explicitly, though awareness of the issues
Subject Specific Skills	Theory, software and research specific knowledge will be developed.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6