This paper offers new principles for visual information seeking (VIS). A key concept is to support browsing, which is distinguished from familiar query composition and information retrieval because of its emphasis on rapid filtering to reduce result sets, progressive refinement of search parameters, continuous reformulation of goals, and visual scanning to identify results. VIS principles developed include: dynamic query filters (query parameters are rapidly adjusted with sliders, buttons, maps, etc.), starfield displays (two-dimensional scatterplots to structure result sets and zooming to reduce clutter), and tight coupling (interrelating query components to preserve display invariants and support progressive refinement combined with an emphasis on using search output to foster search input). A FilmFinder prototype using a movie database demonstrates these principles in a VIS environment.

Dynamic queries are a novel approach to information seeking that may enable users to cope with information overload. They allow users to see an overview of the database, rapidly (100 msec updates) explore and conveniently filter out unwanted information. Users fly through information spaces by incrementally adjusting a query (with sliders, buttons, and other filters) while continuously viewing the changing results. Dynamic queries on the chemical table of elements, computer directories, and a real estate database were built and tested in three separate exploratory experiments. These results show statistically significant performance improvements and user enthusiasm more commonly seen with video games. Widespread application seems possible but research issues remain in database and display algorithms, and user interface design. Challenges include methods for rapidly displaying and changing many points, colors, and areas; multidimensional pointing; incorporation of sound and visual displ...

In this paper we review studies of the growth of the Internet and technologies that are useful for information search and retrieval on the Web. We present data on the Internet from several different sources, e.g., current as well as projected number of users, hosts, and Web sites. Although numerical figures vary, overall trends cited

In this paper we review studies on the growth of the Internet and technologies which are useful for information search and retrieval on the Web. In the rst section, we present data on the Internet from several dierent sources, e.g., current as well as projected number of users, hosts and Web sites. Although the numerical gures vary, the overall trends cited by the sources are consistent and point to exponential growth during the coming decade. And Internet users are increasingly using search engines and search services to nd speci c information of interest. However, users are not satis ed with the performance of the current generation of search engines; the slow speed of retrieval, communication delays, and poor quality of retrieved results (e.g., noise and broken links) are commonly cited problems. The main body of our paper focuses on linear algebraic models and techniques for solving these problems. keywords: clustering, indexing, information retrieval, Internet, late...