Alan Dix - research topics

Query-by-Browsing

Query-by-Browsing (QbB) is a novel database interface designed to explore issues of human interaction with intelligent systems. Standard "Query-by-Example" is not really by example at all. The user has to construct a template of the query. In contrast QbB really is "by example". The user selects records of interest from a list of records and machine learning algorithms generate a query which matches the records selected. This query is used to extend the selection and is reflected back to the user either as a textual query (e.g. SQL) or as a QBE style query. The challenges from a research perspective include the choice of algorithms (machine learning, traditional AI, genetic algorithms, neural networks) and handling the interaction. There are typically many queries which explain a given set of selected records. The algorithm must choose one which seems sensible to the user. However good the algorithm, it will not guess right every time and so the deign of the system must allow the user to interact with the intelligent agent in a graceful manner.

Try it out the new online version - Query-by-Browsing on the Web

If you have a Macintosh you can also download a demonstration program

Some publications featuring Query-by-Browsing

• A. Dix (1992).
  Human issues in the use of pattern recognition techniques.
  In Neural Networks and Pattern Recognition in Human Computer Interaction Eds. R. Beale and J. Finlay. Ellis Horwood. 429-451.
• A. Dix and A. Patrick (1994).
  Query By Browsing.
  Proceedings of IDS'94: The 2nd International Workshop on User Interfaces to Databases, Ed. P. Sawyer. Lancaster, UK, Springer Verlag. 236-248.
• J. E. Finlay and A. J. Dix (1994).
  Pattern recognition in Human-Computer Interaction a viable approach?
  SIGCHI Bulletin, 26(4).
• J. Finlay and A. Dix (1996).
  An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
  UCL Press / Taylor and Francis, ISBN 1-85728-399-6.
• A. Dix and J. Finlay (1997).
  Neural networks and human-computer interaction.
  In Handbook of Neural Computation, Eds. E. Fiesler and R. Beale. Institute of Physics Publishing and Oxford University Press. pp. G7.1:1-G7.1:7.
  abstract
• Alan Dix (1998).
  Interactive Querying - locating and discovering information
  Second Workshop on Information Retrieval and Human Computer Interaction, Glasgow, 11th September 1998.
  extended abstract || full paper (Adobe pdf)