Search & Extract Metadata Interface designs

Here are the interface designs for the two main tools we intend to produce. This one contains a ruff sketchof a free standing metadata generation tool using Denim. Once you’ve install Denim and open one of the files in the zip, go to the Denim’s menu (top left) and select File > Run. The enclosed word document gives more details as well as screen-shots of some of the features for those of you who are unable to get Denim to run. The ideas on how to present keywords to the user are contained in the previous Denim release and may be incorporated here depending on the algorithms used. At its most basic it should be able to extract keywords from university documents and use a store of information to add the reaming metadata fields. Some of this was discussed in a previous report on eCat’s metadata.

 

The second tool is for searching a metadata store, initially a folder of flat files. Sketches of three interfacehave been produced for this. The download also contains a word doc with more details and screen shots . These have been influenced by the investigations into repositories, content management systems and eCat. The basic functionality remains the same across these interfaces but their presentation is very different. The aim here is to produce a stand alone application for user evaluation of different search methods and algorithms. Hence the actual search feature has many elements to test different combinations.

 

Eventually both these tools can be developed into web services, if appropriate so they can be used by other applications. This will mean the development of a connection interface and administration tools.

 

Feed back on all these and the previous eCat interfaces released is essential so please make comments.

 

Rerelease Metadata Interface Prototypes using DENIM

A couple of months back we released some interfaces for discussion/feedback and used the Gabbeh tool to design and present them. As this was a prototype we have had a few technical problems. At the Emerge meeting in York we had some interest in the parent tool to Gabbeh, Denim. This is a more stable version, and while it does not have the comments feature we liked so much in Gabbeh it does provided a whole host of features for interface design. In light of this we decided to re-release the prototypes as Denim files available here. To accompany this we have also produced a questionnaire as a means of feedback. Please enter the code ECAT9 when completing the questionnaire.

 

Gabbeh Prototypes

As part of the development process we have been looking into how auto-metadata could improve eCat’s interface. This has been a two way process as the examination of eCat’s current interface has supported the development of ideas for the auto-metadata generation. From this several paper prototypes, focusing on the interface, have been designed.

We have used a new tool developed by Amirmohammad Naghsh called Gabbeh. This extends the prototyping tool Denim by enable collaborative users to add comments to the interface designs. The zip file Gabbeh_Prototypes.zip contains the Gabbeh application, instructions and three paper prototypes. You will also  need to download the Denim tool. Please feel free to download and add comments to the prototype. Instructions on how to unpack, use and return your comments are included.