SenseMaker: An Information-Exploration Interface Supporting the Contextual Evolution of a User's Interests

We describe the design, implementation, and pilot study for SenseMaker, an interface for information exploration across heterogeneous sources. We propose supporting the contextdriven evolution of a user’s interests via: (1) an approximation of the current information context as the current collection of accumulated information references, and (2) a unified set of user-centered actions for examining the current context and for progressing from one context to the next. SenseMaker users examine their current context by experimenting iteratively with different organizing dimensions and levels of granularity for the current collection’s display. They progress from one context to another by building upon, taking away from, or replacing the current collection. They can also return to a previous information context and continue exploring from there. Keywords Information exploration, digital libraries, information seeking, information retrieval

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1997
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Michelle Q. Wang Baldonado, Terry Winograd
• Keywords: CHI 1997, Current Collection, Current Context, Human Computer Interaction, Information Context