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Dissertation Information for Thomas Kevin Gillespie

NAME:
- Thomas Kevin Gillespie

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of California, Berkeley (USA) (1991)

ADVISORS:
- Michael D. Cooper

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Ray R. Larson
- Charles Woodson

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: Mapping thoughts: Visual interfaces for information retrieval

Abstract: This dissertation examines interface design for information retrieval systems from the perspective of visual thinking. In the first section I begin by arguing that we have a history of visual thinking which extends back as far as the caves of Altamira and continues in an unbroken line through mythology, the development of writing, and the fine arts to the modern development of television, video games, and cyberspace. I support my argument with cognitive theories of the mind, and empirical research from the fields of cognitive psychology and human factors which demonstrates the usefulness of visual information to aid visual recall and learning. I finish by discussing the history of humankind as a history of visual thinking which argues for an integration of text and graphics to aide the user in searching for information. From this point of view, I next examine traditional information systems such as pictograms, maps, and cataloging systems, and then computerized information systems such as online public access catalogs, spreadsheets, the Desktop Metaphor, and Geographic Information Systems. I then illustrate and comment on five visual interface projects which demonstrate the range of approaches being taken in the design of graphical interfaces for information retrieval.

In the second half of this dissertation I develop a detailed prototype model of a visual interface for an online line public access catalog. In this section I begin with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the University of California online public access catalog, MELVYL$\sp\circler$. In the final section I develop a prototype model of a visual interface to the MELVYL system which I call VisualMELVYL. This model is based upon the history of visual thinking, information retrieval, current graphical design work, and research on visual recall and learning from text and pictures. VisualMELVYL demonstrates a visual interface to an online public access catalog, and potentially to any information resource connected to a wide area network such as the Internet.

MPACT Scores for Thomas Kevin Gillespie

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-05-29 20:21:32

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Students under Thomas Kevin Gillespie

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None