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Supporting Research with Weblogs: A Study on Web-based Research Support Systems. JingTao Yao Department of Computer Science, University or Regina CANADA S4S 0A2 jt yao@cs.uregina.ca http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao. Advances in Computer and Web Technology. More opportunities
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Supporting Research with Weblogs:A Study on Web-based Research Support Systems JingTao Yao Department of Computer Science, University or Regina CANADA S4S 0A2 jtyao@cs.uregina.ca http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao
Advances in Computer and Web Technology • More opportunities • Information Availability, accessibility, flexibility • More challenges • Find the right information/tools, • Learn/use the existing tools • Faster changes • Keep up with the pace of the changes. J T Yao: Weblogs
James Kim Tragedy • San Francisco Chronicle: MAPS: Internet travel directions need to be checked carefully • The Age, Australia: Faulty online mapping linked to wrong turn disaster • How reliable are these free online maps? • Google Maps • Yahoo Maps • MapQuest J T Yao: Weblogs
Web-based Support Systems • A multidisciplinary research that focuses on supporting various human activities in specific domains/fields based on computer science, information technology, and Web technology. • Take the opportunities of the Web • Meet the challenges of the Web • Extend the human physical limitations of information processing • Keep up with the advance of technology advances J T Yao: Weblogs
Computerized Support systems • It is impossible to develop a fully automated computer system. • More practical substitute systems • Decision support systems (DSS), • Computer aided software engineering (CASE) • Computer aided design (CAD) • Computer aided education (CAE) J T Yao: Weblogs
What Can We Do with the Web? • Provides a distributed infrastructure for information processing. • Delivers timely, secure information and tools with user friendly interface. • Has no time or geographic restrictions. • Results can be controlled and retrieved remotely and instantly. • Collaboration: a channel for research discussion J T Yao: Weblogs
Two Dimensional View of WSS A (a particular domain) + support systems = A support systems Web + A + support systems = Web-based A support systems J T Yao: Weblogs
Why the Web? • The Web is used as • The basic infrastructure • The common user interface • The universal platform • The medium for delivering and providing support of human activities. J T Yao: Weblogs
Scientific Research in the Web Age • As new technologies evolve and existing technologies expand, a scientist needs to adjust accordingly and make full use of them when carrying out research. • Scientists face many challenges in using Web-based information resources, such as information overload, validation, fees, poorly designed navigation, retrieval, misinformation, and browsing tools. J T Yao: Weblogs
WRSS • How to support scientists to meet such challenges is an important issue. • Many computer systems have been implemented to support various research activities. • Meta search engines • World (spelling, grammar checking) • Citation indexes: Web of Science, Google Scholar, DBLP, CiteSeer J T Yao: Weblogs
The Study of Research Support Systems is Interdisciplinary • Research methodologies: • Purpose of research (science), research methods, research activities, etc. • Computer science • Computer systems that support various research activities. • Web • As an infrastructure and a medium of support delivery, as an common user interface. • WRSS integrates and extends existing computer technologies and systems to serve scientists. J T Yao: Weblogs
A Model of the Research Process • Ideagenerating phase. • Problemdefinition phase. • Proceduredesign/planning phase. • Observation/experimentation phase. • Dataanalysis phase. • Resultsinterpretation/explanation phase. • Communication phase J T Yao: Weblogs
Role of WRSS • Active role of WRSS: scientists play an active role in using a passive system vs. WRSS play a more active role to assist scientists. • Rationality and feasibility: Research process is relatively discipline independent, which makes WRSS feasible. • Separation of general research process and discipline specific knowledge. J T Yao: Weblogs
Characteristics of WRSS • Conceptual organization of WRSS: Sequentially according to the sequence of research phases, hierarchically based on the complexity of research activities. • Personalized support. • Adaptation over time. • Web platform. J T Yao: Weblogs
Functionalities of WRSS • Profile management: to collect, organize, and store all relevant information the scientists. • Resource management: • Many types of resources exist for supporting research, such as human resources, tool resources, and information/knowledge resources. • The objective is to identify the suitable resource to support scientists' research needs. • Data/knowledge management: to record, store and retrieve the useful data, information and knowledge during the entire research process. J T Yao: Weblogs
Specific Supporting Functionalities • Exploring support • Retrieval support • Reading support • Analyzing support • Writing support J T Yao: Weblogs
Weblogs • Weblog (or Blog) • A new form of mainstream personal communication. • A new voice for traditional media. • A new way for general public to express their opinion in contract traditional one-way street. • Technorati.com, a Weblog-tracking company, tracks 62.6 million blogs (Dec 12, 2006) • 55.4 in Sept 2006, • 4.2 in Oct 2004. • 175,000 new blogs per day, 1.6 million posts per day, or over 18 updates a second. J T Yao: Weblogs
Wikipedia • Free online encyclopedia • 1,529,503 English articles • You may add, edit, comment, link entries • Warning: do not use Wikipedia as a primary source. J T Yao: Weblogs
Using Weblog • Research journal, diary, forum • Keep track idea evolution • Keep track contribution • Easier information retrieval, hyperlinks • System management • Sort/store by idea, time, author • Access level: user, group, others. • Citation management • Search J T Yao: Weblogs
Conclusion • The research on WSS is a natural evolution of the existing research. • DSS => WDSS => WSS • DSS => Computerized SS => WSS • WSS provide a potential solution for information/tool overload and the complexity of modern problems. • WRSS will enhance researchers research ability. • Weblog provides a new tool for research support. J T Yao: Weblogs