In this paper we approach the 2014 MediaEval Retrieving Diverse Social Images Task from the perspective of relevance feedback techniques. Two methods are introduced. A first approach exploits real user feedback with a multi Support Vector Machine classification scheme and a confidence score based image selection mechanism. The second approach replaces human feedback with an automatic hierarchic...

We propose a new robust relevance model that can be applied to both pseudo feedback and true relevance feedback in the language-modeling framework for document retrieval. There are three main differences between our new relevance model and the Lavrenko-Croft relevance model. First, a query is treated as a short, special document and included in approximating a relevance model, in addition to a ...

In the last years, cluster based retrieval has been demonstrated as an effective tool for both interactive retrieval and pseudo relevance feedback techniques. In this paper we propose a new cluster based retrieval function which uses the best and worst clusters of a document in the cluster ranking, to improve the retrieval effectiveness. The evaluation shows improvements in some standard TREC c...

Image collections are searched in common retrieval systems in many different ways, but the typical presentation is by means of a grid styled view. In this paper we try to suggest a novel use of relevance feedback as a tool to warp the view and allow the user to spatially navigate the image collection, and at the same time focus on his retrieval aim. This is obtained by the use of a distance bas...

In our previous work, we developed AirTransNote, a student notesharing system that facilitates collaborative and interactive learning during regular lectures in conventional classrooms. Because taking notes on paper is a regular activity, our system does not impose an extra burden on students who share notes. However, in order to improve the effectiveness of sharing notes on peer learning, stud...

One of the main bottle-necks in providing more effective information access is the poverty of the query end. With an average query length of about two terms, users provide only a highly ambiguous statement of the, often complex, underlying information need. Implicit and explicit feedback can provide us with additional information that can help disambiguate the query and provide more focused sea...