On the application of game mechanics in information retrieval

The exponential growth of digital generated content in the form of audio, video and complex data structures calls for novel methods and tools able to cope with the limitation of automated analysis techniques. Gamification, the process of using game design methodologies and game mechanics to enhance traditional applications, is a promising tool that can help to increase the active involvement of humans in the Information Retrieval processes. This work contributes to the emerging research field of Gamification in Information Retrieval by providing an overview on: 1) the fundamental elements of a game; 2) the major game mechanics that have been applied in traditional games and gamication techniques; and 3) an overview of the possible adoption of such techniques in a typical IR scenario. The goal is to lay a path for the adoption of these new tools in IR systems, focusing on their application to the traditional building blocks of the query and content analysis processes.