Text Retrieval via Semantic Forests

We approached our first participation in TREC with an interest in performing retrieval on the output of automatic speech-to-text (speech recognition) systems and a background in performing topic-labeling on such output. Our primary thrust, therefore, was to participate in the SDR track. In conformance with the rules, we also participated in the Ad Hoc text-retrieval task, to create a baseline for comparing our converted topic-labeling system with other approaches to IR and to assess the effect of speech-transcription errors. A second thrust was to explore rapid prototyping of an IR system, given the existing topic-labeling software.