We give particular emphasis to OPAC and SDI, aiming to eliminate the need for the user to login to the library system and supply his/her query. The name of the game is to allow theuser to define a profile and for the system to take care of all subsequent information propagation in such a way as to keep the user informed of any developments/publications/news/ etc. So the emphasis as far as the user is concerned, is for a good profile (with or without thesaurus terms) that matches exactly his subject area(s).
CEC is funding the creation of a syllabus for an M.sc. in Information Engineering of which a substantial part is IR and IR-related topics ... The M.Sc. will be a common course, common exams and common delivery via video conferencing/internet.
The 1-week workshop to do this and have consultations with industry etc. is the week after SIGIR, in Majorca. I could talk briefly at your SIGIR w'shop about this M.Sc. which is a collaborative effort involving Dublin, Sheffield, Padua, Balleiric Islands , Glasgow and possible Grenoble, Zurich and others ...
Consideration of the basic principles and tools for analysis and retrieval of documents in bibliographic information systems. Topics include: acquisition of information, subject analysis, terminology control, coding and recording of results of analysis on a searchable medium, and question analysis and search strategy development. (Prerequisite: INFSCI 0010/0011)
An introduction to hardware, software, and other resources required for interactive system development and the searching capabilities of an interactive textual retrieval system. DIALOG, BRS and various CD-ROMs are presented as models of interactive textual retrieval systems. Students will create small databases utilizing available software. (Prerequisites:INFSCI 0015 or permission of instructor)
INFSCI 2002: Information Storage and Retrieval
Prerequisites: introduction to logic and statistical analysis, familiarity with a high-level programming language
Examines the basic problems of information retrieval from theoretical and experimental points of view. Develops a basis for the specification of design principles for IR systems.
Concurrent consideration of options for knowledge representation, methods for evaluating the effect of these options on costs and effectiveness, and research relating to knowledge representation for information retrieval.
The course will cover basic and advanced techniques for text-based
information
systems. Topics covered include retrieval models, indexing and text
representation, browsing and query formulation, routing, distributed
information retrieval, and integration with database systems. The
course will
include implementation of major elements of an information retrieval
system.
Prerequisite: CMPSCI 545 or equivalent. 3 credits.
This seminar covers current and recent research in Information Retrieval as well as significant results from the past. We will discuss how this research relates (or does not relate) to the work done locally. Specific topics may include probabilistic IR, visualization, passage handling, routing (feedback), query expansion, summarization, integration with databases, natural language processing, and so forth. Participants will be expected to read 1-3 papers per week (rarely more than 2). A short (half page) synopsis of each paper will be due before the class in which a paper is discussed. One or more attendees will be responsible for presenting a 10-15 minute summary of each paper. When possible, researchers will be asked to relate their work to the papers. Discussion of the papers will follow. A prerequisite for this seminar is CMPSCI 691I (646), the Information Retrieval course, or its equivalent. Contact James Allan (allan@cs.umass.edu) if you are uncertain whether you have the necessary background.
An introduction to the basic concepts, methodologies, and research findings in information retrieval. Key functions in information retrieval systems including libraries are examined.
Explore the issues involved in creating databases of visual materials, and document imaging and multimedia databases. Study how repositories of image material organize and provide access to that material (both in automated and non-automated ways), and apply that knowledge.
Examine past predictions of where news, culture and other information were headed, study currently available online services, and envision future delivery mechanisms.
According to Wessel Kraaij, TNO-TPD TU-Delft, kraaij@tpd.tno.nl, there are more IR oriented courses at the CS department.
According to Wessel Kraaij, TNO-TPD TU-Delft, kraaij@tpd.tno.nl, there is a course on NLP, which touches on IR.