Abstract When undertaking complex search scenarios, the underlying information need cannot be satisfied by finding a single optimal resource; instead, searchers need to engage in exploratory search processes to find multiple resources by iteratively revising and reformulation their queries. This process of query refinement is particularly challenging when using a mobile device, where typing is difficult. Furthermore, in mobile search contexts interruptions can lead to searchers losing track of what they were doing. To address these challenges, we designed a public digital library search interface for mobile devices that includes two novel features: drag‐and‐drop query refinement and query history visualization. To assess the value of this interface compared to a typical baseline, we conducted a controlled laboratory study with 32 participants that included pursuing complex search scenarios, being interrupted in the midst of the search, and resuming the search after the interruption. While participants took more time, they generated longer queries and reported positive subjective opinions about the usability of the exploratory search and task resumption features, along with a greater increase in certainty. These findings show the value of leveraging new touch‐based interaction mechanisms within mobile search contexts, and the benefits that visualization can bring to supporting search task resumption.

Conducting exploratory searches within digital libraries requires that searchers revise, refine, and reformulate their queries multiple times. Challenges that searchers of digital public libraries face include choosing how to refine their queries and making spelling or typographical errors. These are compounded when using mobile devices, where typing is time-consuming and error-prone. Conducting searches in a mobile context adds yet another challenge: the possibility of being interrupted and losing track of what was being done. In this paper we demonstrate a novel digital public library search interface tuned for mobile device use, which was designed to address these challenges through two key features: drag-and-drop query refinement and query history visualization. This work represents an example of how thoughtful search interface design and the judicious use of visualization techniques can be used to enhance exploratory search processes within digital public libraries.

Information seeking in an academic digital library is complex in nature, often spanning multiple search sessions. Resuming academic search tasks requires significant cognitive effort as searchers must re-acquaint themselves with previous search session activities and previously discovered documents before resuming their search. Further, some academic searchers may find it convenient to initiate such searches on their mobile devices during short gaps in time (e.g., between classes), and resume them later in a desktop environment when they can use the extra screen space and more convenient document storage capabilities of their computers. To support such searching, we have developed an academic digital library search interface that assists searchers in managing cross-session search tasks even when moving between mobile and desktop environments. Using a controlled laboratory study we compared our approach (Dilex) to a standard academic digital library search interface. We found increased user engagement in both the initial (mobile) and resumed (desktop) search activities, and that participants spent more time on the search results pages and had an increased degree of interaction with information and personalization features during the resumed tasks. These results provide evidence that the participants were able to make effective use of the visualization features in Dilex, which enabled them to readily resume their search tasks and stay engaged in the search activities. This work represents an example of how semi-automatic search task/session management and visualization features can support cross-session search, and how designing for both mobile and desktop use can support cross-device search.

News articles often use narrative frames to present people, organizations, and facts. These narrative frames follow cultural archetypes, enabling readers to associate each of the presented elements with familiar stereotypes, well-known characters, and recognizable outcomes. In this way, authors can cast real people or organizations as heroes, villains, or victims. We present a system that identifies the main entities of a news article, and determines which is being cast as a hero, a villain, or a victim. As currently implemented, this system interacts directly with news consumers through a browser extension. Our hope is that by informing readers when an entity is cast in one of these roles, we can make implicit bias explicit, and thereby assist readers in applying their media literacy skills. This approach can also be used to identify roles in well-understood event sequences in a more prosaic manner, e.g., for information extraction.