ScentTrails
- 1 September 2003
- journal article
- Published by Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction
- Vol. 10 (3) , 177-197
- https://doi.org/10.1145/937549.937550
Abstract
The two predominant paradigms for finding information on the Web are browsing and keyword searching. While they exhibit complementary advantages, neither paradigm alone is adequate for complex information goals that lend themselves partially to browsing and partially to searching. To integrate browsing and searching smoothly into a single interface, we introduce a novel approach called ScentTrails. Based on the concept of information scent developed in the context of information foraging theory, ScentTrails highlights hyperlinks to indicate paths to search results. This interface enables users to interpolate smoothly between searching and browsing to locate content matching complex information goals effectively. In a preliminary user study, ScentTrails enabled subjects to find information more quickly than by either searching or browsing alone.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- Information foraging.Psychological Review, 1999
- Towards adaptive Web sites: conceptual framework and case studyComputer Networks, 1999
- Facilitating navigation in information spaces: Road-signs on the World Wide WebInternational Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 1999
- Strong Regularities in World Wide Web SurfingScience, 1998
- Navigation in electronic worldsACM SIGCHI Bulletin, 1997
- Methods and techniques of adaptive hypermediaUser Modelling and User-Adapted Interaction, 1996
- The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interfaceOnline Review, 1989
- Formative design evaluation of superbookACM Transactions on Information Systems, 1989
- A spreading activation theory of memoryJournal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 1983
- ON THE SPECIFICATION OF TERM VALUES IN AUTOMATIC INDEXINGJournal of Documentation, 1973