Bulletin of the Association for Information Science and Technology最新文献

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Controlled vocabularies or languages are widely used in the field of information retrieval, but questions of whether they are necessary or more effective than free text searching have been unanswered. With the widespread use of free text searching in popular search engines, many in the information retrieval field have wondered how to make controlled vocabularies more useful or effective. Recent studies on this subject have revealed that while controlled vocabularies can produce more precise search results, user characteristics can potentially match those results in the right environment. These studies included a multitude of users from different backgrounds with different search environments. Some of the most important findings of these studies demonstrate that the skill of users and indexers can affect search outcomes just as much as controlled vocabularies.

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

In the modern age of the internet, computers and smartphones, we have access to incredible amounts of information. However, often what we seek from this information is knowledge, which can be expressed as raw information that has been reproduced and curated. Professor Steve Fuller discussed this divide at the 2016 ASIS&T Annual Lecture at Napier University on November 30. Fuller discusses the idea that raw information must be curated and edited in order to express actual knowledge, but in the act of reproducing the information for this purpose, data can become distorted and omitted. Fuller cites Wikileaks as a source of raw information that was handed to media outlets to edit and present as knowledge. Wikipedia is another domain that has become one of the most cited centers of knowledge, but allows anyone to curate information and remains unstudied as a whole.

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

In a digital age, it is very difficult to maintain complete privacy when posting on social media or making purchases. Individual activity on the internet is increasingly collected by corporations, even with the user's knowledge, and can be used to predict future behavior, purchasing choices or other sensitive subjects. This data analysis is often done without a user's consent and in many cases presents unethical behavior and breaches of privacy. In the world of libraries, the privacy of patrons has been tantamount for decades, but trying to keep up with privacy codes and still make use of this big data can be challenging for librarians. Big data can be beneficial to libraries in many ways, and if pointed at library systems, rather than the habits of patrons, can also keep privacy intact.

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Metadata, taxonomies and other similar structures are essential in information architecture today, but often take a long time to fully understand. Metadata is especially misunderstood by many, considering its beginnings as a very technical discipline. For those looking to broaden their knowledge on metadata, Michael C. Andrews' book, Metadata Basics for Web Content: The Unification of Structured Data and Content, is an excellent resource. Despite the title, the book covers the basics of metadata and then goes a step further to explain relationships and present actual use cases. Andrews also defines the terms he is using early on in the book, so that professionals from all areas of information architecture can understand his meaning, even with terms that take on many meanings in the industry.

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

The new field of data science involves advanced knowledge in statistics and computer science, combined with copious amounts of data. A report from the Big Data and Research Initiative under the Obama Administration, The Federal Big Data Research and Development Strategic Plan, calls attention to the roles that librarians will play in the future of data science. However, there are skills and management gaps librarians face that inhibit their ability to move forward in data science. A number of educational programs are now offered to remedy this problem, such as the Data and Visualization Institute for Librarians from North Carolina State University, the volunteer-led Library Carpentry program, and most recently, the Data Sciences in Libraries Project, funded by the IMLS. This project aims to get librarians and library managers together to discuss the world of data science and create a roadmap for strategic planning.

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Mexico's political history has seen several parties rise and fall in the 21st century, and amidst the many transitions, the Mexican people have seen a divide growing in their society. This divide covers many areas, such as economic standing, access to healthcare and education, and access to digital technology. The digital divide means that access to internet service and smartphones is often limited to the affluent. However, access to technology is just one aspect of the digital divide. Citizens also require training and education in how to use the technology and where to access information. Currently, the vast majority of internet users in Mexico are 24 years of age and younger, meaning that older generations need the access and education in technology use. With more Mexican citizens given access to technology, more can actively participate in government and create a government that they deserve.

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Scholarly research is at the forefront of innovation, especially with a breadth of new technologies that can enhance the research process. However, in a race for scholars to produce more and more new findings, documentation practices and reproduction of results may be neglected. Lack of validation through reproduction can lead to a general distrust of scholarly research and experiments, but a more generous approach to information sharing could be the answer to this issue. Scholars have connected socially for centuries to share their ideas, and this practice has led to some truly innovative ideas that have shaped our world today. With willing participants sharing their ideas and their research methods, new findings can be reproduced and validated, creating a stronger and more trustworthy community of scholars.

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Greg Welch, chair of healthcare simulation at University of Central Florida, spoke at the 2016 ASIS&T Annual Meeting as the first plenary speaker. He discussed the meaning of a telepresence valley, which is the gap between people in a situation where telepresence is involved. Welch noted that telepresence is markedly different from telecollaboration and, in an ideal telepresence situation, people from different remote locations can feel they are together in one common location. One telepresence application, TLE TeachLivE, is a simulated classroom that allows teachers to improve their skills in interacting with students. TLE simulates avatar students that react to the teacher, thus giving realistic feedback in real time. Welch also discussed applications in the healthcare industry, such as a touch-sensitive mannequin head that Welch and his team are developing to react to the actions of a provider.