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.

 

Using Gabbeh

I have recently been designing potential interfaces for an adapted version of eCat. To do this I have been using an extend version of Denim called Gabbeh developed by Amirmohammad Naghsh for his PhD.

This is an interesting tool for collaborative interface and web site development. Built on Denim, Gabbeh adds a communication tool to an already intuitive application. There are two modes. The design mode which allows for the development and editing of the interface, and a none-design mode that allows colleagues to interact with the interface but not to edit it. Comments can be added in both modes and are attached to the interface page being viewed at the time. They can be colour coded to reflect what they are discussing. Comments can be viewed and sorted by author and colour.

There are a few problems to sort out. In the design mode comments fill the whole of the screen in certain views. Its best to add them once the design is done. There isn’t a spell checker yet, but the original Denim application is focused on freehand drawing not masses of text. Consistency between modes is hit and miss with the comments. Sometimes their there sometimes there not, depending on where they were added or edited.

This has been a fun application to work with and for me, a natural pencil and paper person, very intuitive. It works well with a mouse and standard pc but is much better on a tablet pc. Being able to draw your ideas add some hyperlinks and show people how your designs interact is really good. The comments add an extra dimension enabling the designer to describe the functions behind the interface elements.