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Conceptualizing and advancing research networking systemsTitus Schleyer, DMD, PhD1, Brian Butler, PhD2, Mei Song, PhD1, Heiko Spallek, DMD, PhD1

1University of Pittsburgh2University of Maryland

Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, May 9, 2012

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Definition

“Research Networking Systems (RNS) are systems which support individual researchers’ efforts to form and maintain optimal collaborative relationships for conducting productive research within a specific context.”

List of RNSs: http://bit.ly/RNSList

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Four key areas for RNS

•Foundations•Presentation•Architecture•Evaluation

• 13 claims• 51 research

questions}

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Sample claims

Public domain image http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1996/of96-737/ 2012

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Claim 2: Exploiting social networks is essential for efficient and effective research networking.

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Licensed image (http://www.123rf.com/) 2011

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Claim 5: RNS must represent individuals’ expertise, interests and activities using controlled terminologies.

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Mr. Taxonomy

VS

Brother Folksonomy

Licensed images (http://www.123rf.com/) 2011

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Claim 6: RNSs must allow users to search and visualize researcher profiles in multiple ways.

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Picking collaborators from a stack of CVs …

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Copyright © 2011 The Trustees of Indiana University

Copyright © 2011 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College

image courtesy Melissa Haendel 2011

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Claim 9: RNSs must integrate information from multiple systems, make use of meta-information such as indexing terms to synthesize the information and present results in a cohesive manner.

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Databases

Licensed image (http://www.123rf.com/) 2011

Informal sources

Social Media

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Claim 10: RNS must integrate seamlessly with an individual’s workflow and the software applications that are part of it.

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Licensed images (http://www.123rf.com/) 2011

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Claim 11: Evaluating RNS search results requires metrics which combine traditional information retrieval measures with those specific to collaboration.

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Conclusion

• moving RNSs forward requires broad but integrated research program

• CSCW, HCI, social science and others essential to progress

• rapid, iterative cycle between foundational research, design, implementation and evaluation

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Please visit us at:http://di.dental.pitt.edu/orcTwitterFacebook /titusschleyerScribd }

Thank You for Your Attention!Questions, comments?

(Yeah!)

Thanks to:• NCRR award 1 U54 RR023506-01• Michael Dziabiak

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http://scr.bi/RNS-CHI2012