The user interface of clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) has not yet been studied well. In a previous study, we investigated the presentation of diagnostic output and proposed the hierarchical representation of differential diagnosis lists that provides an effective way of interfacing with a CDSS. In this research, we propose the incorporation of relevance feedback to improve the user interface. Such feedback can be used in three ways: to sharpen the search query, to initiate a dialogue with the user with regard to the presence or absence of particular diagnostic information, and to improve the accuracy of the diagnostic algorithm. This research qualitatively evaluates our approach and demonstrates that relevance feedback has desirable characteristics as a user interface element for clinical decision support.

One way to reduce opportunity loss and help stop the proliferation of bad book reviews is to reduce the gap between expectation before reading and satisfaction after reading. A previously developed method for revising book cover images to reflect reader impressions reduces the gap between the impression obtained from a book cover image and the impression after reading the book. A book search system based on this method has now been constructed that enables users to easily search for books on the basis of impressions after reading as reflected by the revised book cover images. Its ring-structured graphical search interface supports multi-faceted search using simple ring operations. Testing showed that it enables users to easily search for books on the basis of impressions after reading and enhances the opportunity to discover new books during the search process.

An iPhone application called "Wonder Search" for application search has been developed under the hypothesis that a search interface included sense-related search facets gives a better chance of finding new applications for users. The search facets comprise five attributes: icon color, icon tone, application category, user evaluation, and release date. We enhanced a ring-structured graphical search interface for multi-faceted metadata to solve two reported usability problems by preparing dials for each facet and dividing the functions for ring rotation into two operations. Usability testing with 60 participants demonstrated that users can use this application not only for searching for applications effectively but also for analyzing the features of applications. The application can potentially be used for sensing the emotions of users if the hypothesis that the colors browsed or selected by users are related to their feelings is correct.

A previously reported botanical data retrieval system based on the 'Concentric Ring View' search interface for multi-faceted metadata has been improved, and an educational application has been developed for use in elementary school science lessons. This system enables students not only to search for plant names but also to learn about the morphological features and taxonomy of plants. The educational application was developed by first having 16 elementary school teachers perform a usability test to identify any problems with using this search interface in the classroom. The operations and displays for browsing the next set of retrieved candidates and for specifying search facets were then improved, and an operation for bookmarking favorite plants was added. A usability test with two elementary school students demonstrated that the improved system enables students to learn more plant features and common properties from the relationships between attribute values and retrieved results.

We describe the graphical search interface we have developed for multi-faceted hierarchical metadata and a video navigation system implementing this 'Revolving Cube Show' interface. This interface can treat discrete, continuous, and hierarchical attributes, enabling users to search flexibly and intuitively by using simple operations to combine attributes. Testing using data on 5495 Japanese TV programs and five attributes (channel, time zone, airtime, genre, and performer) showed that users were able to easily combine the various attributes to create dynamic search hierarchies.

A prototype visualization system for helping children assess website features and use them to identify risky websites has been improved and evaluated. It uses a graphical search interface called eConcentric Ring View,' which was developed to support flexible retrieval of multi-faceted metadata. Eleven website attributes were defined: action, color, atmosphere, layout, average page length, total number of images, total number of links, total number of pages, font most often used, average font size, and total number of letters. Testing using actual and dummy websites showed that the risk level of each actual website corresponded to the type of portal site through which it was accessed and that websites with different risk levels had several different distinguishing characteristics.

We have improved our previously reported 'Concentric Ring View' search interface for multi-faceted metadata so that the display of the retrieved results is more meaningful. We constructed a country data exploration system as a teaching tool for geography education at the elementary- and middle-school levels. This system enables students to search for information flexibly and intuitively by combining attributes using simple operations. We defined seven attributes (five from textbooks and two related to national flags) and created a world map that helps the student place the retrieved results in context.

Since children cannot live in a safe cyberspace environment for ever, setting up filtering or using educational materials are commonly used. A more effective approach to helping children assess website risk is to provide an environment in which children can better understand a website's features and determine the risks of accessing the website for themselves. We have constructed a prototype visualization system for helping children understand website features and use them to identify high-risk websites. We applied a graphical search interface named 'Concentric Ring View' which we proposed to support flexible retrieval for multi-attribute metadata. It was tested using actual and dummy websites featuring five attributes: action, color, atmosphere, number of images, and number of links. The risk level of each actual website was estimated by the features of the portal sites through which it was accessed. A dummy website was used when the actual one was deemed to be too risky. The testing revealed several distinguishing characteristics of high-risk websites. Adding other search attributes such as structure and text appearance should make it possible to characterize risky websites more completely.

We constructed a botanical data retrieval system applying our proposed search interface named 'Concentric Ring View' for multi-faceted metadata. This system allows users to search flexibly and intuitively by combining attributes with simple operation. The attributes used as search keys are visual and botanical features such as flower color, leaf shape, blooming season, and so on. Users can create their own dynamic knowledge hierarchies by selecting these attributes and adjusting attribute values.

Our objective was to apply different kinds of database with our proposed graphical search interface, and to verify the effectiveness focused on user knowledge structure in searching because it allowed users to easily modify received information to suitable knowledge. This interface was for multi-faceted metadata named Concentric Ring View. The design concept of this interface is "result-oriented", which means users continue to search by evaluating the retrieved results.

We evaluated the interactive retrieval functionality of the Concentric Ring View according to a series of usability studies. This is a ring structure-based graphical user interface, like a planisphere, for image retrieval with multi-faceted metadata. Attribute values for each facet are arranged on a ring, and retrieved images are displayed inside using search keys derived from the attribute values on the bottom part of the rings. By rotating the rings, users can browse retrieved images while adjusting search keys. The first usability test conducted with thirty six participants confirmed that: (i) novice users, even junior high school students, could use this interface; (ii) users could find images better than anticipated; and (iii) the interface was good at choosing the first relevant image, but users could not refine retrieval because they were unable to reuse retrieved results. To solve this problem, we added two functionalities, personal history for reuse and relevance feedback. With these improvements, we named the new version of the interface Concentric Ring View F+. A second usability test with seven participants confirmed the effectiveness of this newer interface.