Alleyoop: Interactive Information Retrieval System with Sketch Manipulations

摘要

The Alleyoop system enables users to retrieve information through sketch manipulations. A number of information retrieval systems already enable users to casually search and browse through the Web. These systems are useful for conventional input forms where a user uses a keyboard to input a keyword to a dialog box. However, they are not suitable for pen-based input styles. Users of pen-based computers have to input a query to a fixed dialog box by drawing the query. In contrast, the Alleyoop system is designed for pen-based computing, so users can interactively retrieve information through sketch manipulations. When a user draws a closed curve and a keyword, information nodes related to the keyword are collected automatically inside the closed curve. The user can also create a Venn diagram by continuously drawing closed curves and keywords, and form more complex queries for information retrieval. Moreover, the system allows the user to create a layout by drawing strokes freely, so he/she can set the information nodes on the layout and see them in detail. In this paper, we describe our Alleyoop system and how it can be effectively applied.