Enabling Integrated Information Access and Retrieval

实现对信息的访问仍然是一项复杂和具有挑战性的任务，商业Web搜索引擎的巨大成功将用户的期望提高到了非常高的水平。将这一成功转化为网络搜索之外的领域，同时满足用户的期望，形成了我工作的中心目标。总的来说，我的研究兴趣包括信息检索领域内的一系列相互关联的主题，包括搜索界面、评估、索引、排名和文本数据挖掘。我的工作主要是应用性质的，通过实施、实验和性能测量来验证结果。*此应用程序下提出的活动建立在我当前的研究基础上，特别是我在索引、排名和用户行为建模方面的工作。在接下来的五年里，我计划将这项工作扩展到有效的多阶段排名、集中检索、高召回率检索和搜索会话等主题。此外，我计划解决特定领域的问题，例如城市搜索。*我的研究有可能在几个层面上产生影响。对高效索引和排序的基础研究可以提高系统性能，降低对机器和电力的要求，这对运行在数千台机器上的系统来说非常重要。集中检索的新方法将促进在复杂的书籍、期刊和其他文件集合中获取信息，帮助科学和其他领域的研究人员。搜索技术在最大限度地提高查全率(即找到的相关材料的数量)的同时，最大限度地减少人工努力，在需要近乎穷尽的结果的接收器领域得到应用。解释和建模搜索会话的方法，特别是根据个性化和上下文，可以直接转化为改善搜索者的体验。最后，兴趣点推荐和城市搜索的方法有可能通过一个活的实验室的基础设施来访问开放数据和分享经验。*为了转移技术，我与业界密切合作，包括主要的商业搜索公司、软件顾问以及许多当地滑铁卢的初创公司。我的毕业生在加拿大国内外的工业界和学术界都有机会，包括至少成立了一家加拿大初创企业。我还经常与软件行业以外的接受者互动，他们涉及许多领域的信息访问问题。*我打算在这项发现资助的整个生命周期内保持这种合作方式，继续强调研究生研究活动与行业之间的联系。**

Enabling access to information remains a complex and challenging task, and the tremendous success of commercial Web search engines has raised user expectations to extraordinarily high levels. Translating this success to domains beyond Web search, while matching these user expectations, forms a central goal of my work. Broadly, my research interests encompass a range of interrelated topics within the field of information retrieval, including search interfaces, evaluation, indexing, ranking, and text data mining. My work is primarily of an applied nature, with the results validated through implementation, experimentation, and performance measurement.****The activities proposed under this application build upon my current research, particularly my work on indexing, ranking, and modeling user behaviour. Over the next five years, I plan to extend this work to topics such as efficient multi-staged ranking, focused retrieval, high-recall retrieval, and search sessions. In addition, I plan to address problems in specific domains, such as city search.****My research has potential for impact at several levels. Basic research on efficient indexing and ranking can increase system performance, reducing requirements for machines and power, which is important for systems operating over thousands of machines. New methods for focused retrieval would facilitate information access across complex collections of books, journals and other documents, helping researchers in science and other areas. Search technology to maximize recall (i.e., the amount of relevant material found) while minimizing human effort has application in receptor domains where near-exhaustive results are required.  Methods for interpreting and modeling search sessions, particularly in the light of personalization and context, can directly translate to improved searcher experience. Finally, methods for point-of-interest recommendation and city search have the potential to enable access to open data and shared experience through the infrastructure of a living lab.****To transfer technology, I work closely with industry, including major commercial search companies, software consultants, as well as a number of local Waterloo-based start-ups. My graduating students have gone on to opportunities in industry and academia, both within Canada and internationally, including the founding of a least one Canadian start-up.  I also regularly interact with receptors outside the software industry who are involved in information access problems across many domains.  I intend to maintain this collaborative approach over the lifetime of this Discovery Grant, with a continuing emphasis on links between graduate student research activities and industry.**