Monitoring user actions in the hypertext system “HyperMan”

ABSTRACT

The hypertext system “HyperMan” provides for an automatic conversion of linear machine–readable documents into hypertexts by applying text partitioning and link generation methods. After completion of the generation process, the graphical user interface of the system enables users to browse through the converted documents very easily. To determine whether user actions allow conclusions to be drawn about a generated hypertext, a special component that records user actions has been integrated into the system. In this way sequences of actions can be identified that provide hints of relationships between two document passages or between two terms that occur in the text. Then, the relationships can be stored as links or thesaurus entries, respectively, in the system's data base and can be made available to subsequent users. In addition to acquiring relationships, the user observation component also provides for hints about the acceptance of system components. These hints can serve as a basis for further development of the system.

REFERENCES

• BGP90: Frédérique Biennier , Michel Guivarch , Jean-Marie Pinon, Browsing in hyperdocuments with the assistance of a neural network, Hypertext: concepts, systems and applications, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, 1992
• CaEh89: F. R. Campagnoni , Kate Ehrlich, Information retrieval using a hypertext-based help system, ACM Transactions on Information Systems (TOIS), v.7 n.3, p.271-291, July 1989 [doi>10.1145/65943.65948]
• ERGL89: Dennis E. Egan , Joel R. Remde , Louis M. Gomez , Thomas K. Landauer , Jennifer Eberhardt , Carol C. Lochbaum, Formative design evaluation of superbook, ACM Transactions on Information Systems (TOIS), v.7 n.1, p.30-57, Jan. 1989 [doi>10.1145/64789.64790]
• GJSS89: U. Güntzer , G. Jüttner , G. Seegmüller , F. Sarre, Automatic thesaurus construction by machine learning from retrieval sessions, Information Processing and Management: an International Journal, v.25 n.3, p.265-273, May 1989 [doi>10.1016/0306-4573(89)90044-7 ]
• MSG92: Myka, A.; Sarre, F.; Giintzer, U.: Rule- Based Machine Learning of Hypertex~ Links. "'International Workshop on Database System Intellectualization - IDS '92"', May 25 - 30, 1992, Kaliningrad- Svetlogorsk; to be published in: Upravlyaemye Sistemy i Machiny, 7/8, 1992.
• SGMJ92: Sarre, F.; Giintzer, U.; Myka, A.; Jiittner, G.: Maschinelles Lernen yon Relalionen fu'r Thesauri und Hypertext. In: GSdert, W.; Jaenecke, P.; Schmitz-Esser, W. (Eds.): Kognitive Ans~itze zum Ordnen und Darstellen yon Wissen, Fortschritte in der Wissensorganisation, Band 2 (1992), pp. 265-276.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.7 DOCUMENT AND TEXT PROCESSING
      I.7.2 Document Preparation
          Subjects: Hypertext/hypermedia

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human information processing
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems
          Subjects: Hypertext navigation and maps**
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Evaluation/methodology; User interface management systems (UIMS)

General Terms:
Design, Documentation, Human Factors, Performance, Theory