Applying Interface Agent Technology to Selective Dissemination of Information (SdI) User Profile Management: The Case of ILRIAIerts
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Date
1998-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
SDI services and systems are most important components of information services.
However, they are also widely reported to be resource intensive and time-consuming for
both the service providers and users. As a result, despite the immense contribution they are
proved to provide, they are rarely implemented in developing countries whose information
systems and services are mainly characterized by paucity of resources. In particular, previous studies have repeatedly stated that the creation and maintenance of
the user profile is the most problematic component. This thesis research investigated in to
the problems of this particular component with the view to apply an advanced Artificial
Intelligence techno logy known as interface agents which are a type of software systems
generally called agents. To this end, the SDI user profile management problems are
analyzed taking a case SDI system known as Aerialists of the International Livestock
Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa. This has enabled to discover numerous ways in
which agent technology could bring about improvements on SDI user profile management.
Furthermore, the review of the literature has shown that the technology is already being
employed in systems which are similar to, or enhancements of, SDI systems like those
commonly known as filtering systems that are developed for Internet resources. Drawing on these findings, an agent-oriented modelling of the user profile management
process has been made and some of the basic methods and procedures suggested in this
model have been demonstrated by developing a prototype agent. Using this agent, some
small scale testing of the performance of the suggested methods have been made taking
few test data from ILRIAlerts users. The prototype development and tests have indicated
the possibility of employing agent methods to SDI user profile management
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Information Science