Joan C. Nordbotten
    Associate Professor

    November 2003

    		Publications

    Degree projects

    Lecture areas:
      Advanced Data Management Multimedia data management: Data modelling, Implementation, SQL3 and object-relational dbms'
      Multi-database management Integrating autonomous, heterogeneous, and multi-media data management systems

    Research areas:
      Multimedia multi-database management Virtual Exhibits on Demand
      Multi-database management Schema and database integration,
      Data models & Query languages for MM-DB systems
      Usability studies
    • Interpretation of graphic presentations
    • Usage studies for Virtual Museums
      Statistical information systems Usage studies of a Web Statistical DB

    Summary of current projects:
  • Virtual Exhibits
  • Multi-database management
  • Usibility studies

    • Virtual Exhibits on Demand (VED)
      Museums world wide have been deploying virtual exhibits on the Web since the mid '90s. In addition, they have also made their electronic multimedia collections available for use by researchers and educators/students. Our interest lies in developing ICT methods and tools for assisting development of virtual exhibits from a collection of underlying multimedia databases.

      The VED project Web-site contains updated information from the project.


    Multi-database Management
      Today's organizations maintain numerous, special purpose, database systems to which integrated access is currently required.A logically integrated, multi-database can becomposed of structured (relational and/or object-oriented), statistical, document, temporal, spatial, and/or multi-media databases.Modelling and accessing these combined systems requires extensions to current design and access tools.Our work focuses on the development of methods and tools for multi-database modelling and access. Two alternative approaches are being explored:
      • schema integration with extensions to include document, spatial, temporal, and multi-media data definitions, complimented with extended SQL functionality.
      • development of a multi-database language, for access to highly independent systems.

      In the ADAM, Accessing DAta in Multi-database systems project we are exploring OR-based methods for semi-automatic construction of a canonical schema, with an integrated graphical interface, and query language for multi-database systems.

    Usability Studies:Group for Interface Research, GIR

      GIR was established in 1997 within the Dept. of Information Science, Univ of Bergen,to provide an environment for research on the usability and/or effectiveness of information system interfaces.

      Web experiments for information perception. Statistical tables, charts, and text are used for information dissemination in newspapers and Internet news services under an implicit assumption that these are generally understood formats for the general public. A primary objective of our work has been to develop a Web-based experiment to study how statistical facts presented in these forms are perceived and interpreted.

      Graphic data model legibility. Our experiments indicate that graphic models are not intuitive and used alone are not sufficient tools for either database system requirements confirmation, or reliable database implementation. Further, graphic syntax effects both interpretation time and completeness, such that highly dense models are significantly more difficult to interpret than list structured models.

      Usage of hypermedia exhibits. We have analysed ca. 1200 visitor sessions in an exhibit of research themes in the social sciences.The data cover 3 populations: general public visitors of a natural science museum, social science faculty and students, and web users. Our observations show that sessions were short in both time spent, <2 minutes, and number of pages selected, <6 pages.Topic selection in the PC exhibit was highly correlated (>0.8)with index placement, while Web visitors entered the exhibit via search engine key words.The exhibit can be viewed at the web version.

      Interfaces to Library Information Systems, ILIS. Internet access to library catalogs and full text documents supports information search without the aid of professional information retrievers. In this situation it is important to know how the traditional, form-based interface functions for untrained information searchers and to test alternative information request formats.

      Problems with standardized terminology. The use of standardized terminology is assumed by many data registration systems. If local language (non-standard) term usage occurs, the data registrered may be erroneous. We've initiated a project to determine the extent of local language usage and adaption of methods to include these terms in a local translation to the standard terminology list.

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