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This study explores the role of weblogs in enhancing web-based research support systems (WRSS) across various domains. It highlights the opportunities and challenges faced by researchers as they adapt to rapidly changing technologies in the digital age. Key issues addressed include information overload, validation, and the need for effective tools to navigate online resources. The study emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in developing systems that support scientific research activities by providing timely and user-friendly access to resources, thereby enhancing the overall research process.
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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