A Conceptual Structure for Designing Personalized Information Seeking and Retrieval Systems in Data-Intensive Domains

Abstract

Personalized information seeking and retrieval is regarded as the solution to the problem of information overload in domains such as crisis response and medical networks. Personalization algorithms and techniques are maturing, but their centralized implementation solutions are becoming less efficient for dealing with ever-changing user information needs in data-intensive, dynamic, and distributed environments. In this chapter, we present a conceptual structure for designing personalized, multidisciplinary information seeking and retrieval systems. This conceptual structure is capable of serving as a bridge between information needs coming from an organizational process, and existing implementations of information access services, software, applications, and technical infrastructure; it is also capable of sufficiently describing and inferring users’ personalized information needs. We believe that it offers a new way of thinking about the retrieval of personalized information.