Traditional information retrieval solutions:
The following are the traditional information retrieval solutions such as databases and BI tools
◘ Text Search
◘ Static Menu Selection
◘ Parametric search
◘ Step search or Wizard
Text search
§ Terms need to be manually entered.
§ Requires user to determine which terms are being used
§ Often produces large results sets when vague terms or few terms are used
§ Often produces no results when the terms are too specific.
Static Menu
§ Provides set of static Menu
§ Limits user to selecting based on single parameter.
§ Typically return large result set.
§ Unavailable after a text search.
Parametric search
§ Is like static Menu Search
§ Allows the user to select a combination of query param.
§ Often forces the select options that may not be relevant
§ As more than one parameter exists results either too many results or no results.
Step Search Or Wizard
§ Is like static menu and Parametric search
§ Does not allow the user number, type, order or priority of the terms used in the search.
§ Can still produce null results.
Summary:
|
User defined search |
System defined browsing |
Avoid null results |
Iterative Refinement of Results |
Prioritize Browsing selection |
|
Text Search |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Static Menu |
|
X |
X |
|
X |
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Parametric Search |
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
Step Search |
|
X |
|
X |
|
Search solutions:
Search engines allows user to decide which is the best method to start information retrieval process
◘ User can opt for searching
§ Retrieves the information that contain the search term
§ User is presented with a set of refinements can be used to reduce the current data set.
§ Will present the option of auto correction and did you mean features.
◘ User can opt by browsing
§ Selects a menu options that identifies a desired characteristics
§ Receives a set of records that contain the specific characteristics.
§ Presented with a set of refinement links that can be used to reduces the data set.
Summary:
|
User defined search |
System defined browsing |
Avoid null results |
Iterative Refinement of Results |
Prioritize Browsing selection |
|
Search solutions |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
In coming years search solution to build the application takes more focus. Any thoughts?