2. Tony Russell-Rose, PhD
Director, UXLabs
~20 years experience in applied research + technology innovation at
HP Labs, BT Labs, Canon, Reuters, Microsoft, Endeca
PhD in natural language interfaces, MSc in human-computer
interaction, first degree in engineering (human factors)
Author of “Designing the Search Experience: the information
architecture of discovery”, Elsevier 2012
3 patents for search user interface design. 60+ scientific and
technical papers on information retrieval and user experience
Honorary Visiting Fellow at City University London, Centre for
Interactive Systems Research
Vice-chair of the BCS Information Retrieval specialist group. Chair of
the IEHF HCI group. Founding chair of Search Solutions conference
Industry Expertise
Government
Media & publishing
Healthcare
eCommerce
Business intelligence
Domain Expertise
Search & information
retrieval
Speech & language
interfaces
Information architecture
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 2
3. “This a huge change to the overall user experience. It transforms the way we
think, and opens opportunities to use search in a disruptive fashion. I love it!”
“Personally, I think people will get annoyed with it. The interface itself isn't
anything new, and it’s an outdated concept. When you think about state-of-the-
art search, it should be less about searching and more about finding.”
“I’m excited to see how this will affect our searching habits. It has proven to
be very useful and intuitive in my research work. In fact, it has also opened
perspectives that I would otherwise have missed. Fantastic!”
“I can't stand it - it’s a hindrance not an aid. It slows me down. It is an
unnecessary feature that has ruined the interface. I am so annoyed that I
have to manually turn this nonsense off”
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 3
5. Where should the Faceted
Navigationmenu be located and
how should it be organised?
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 5
6. How should we present mixed
content results to help users discover
the most relevant and useful items?
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 6
7. User Task Mode
Analyze
Compare
Evaluate
Explore
Locate
…
Context
Spatio-temporal
Social
Environment
Information Assets
The latest Harry Potter
book…
Shoes to match my
interview suit …
An affordable
entertainment system …
Electronics Engineer
Purchasing Agent
Novice Shopper
Technical Enthusiast
…
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 7
8. Literary mode:
a broad, but identifiable literary method, mood, or
manner that is not tied to a particular form or genre
(Wikipedia)
Discovery mode:
a broad, but identifiable discovery activity that is
not tied to a particular context or domain
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 8
9. End user information needs:
▪ Find best offers before the others do so I can have a high margin
▪ Get help and guidance on how to sell my car safely
▪ Understand what is selling by area so I can source the correct stock
▪ See year-on-year ad spend trends for TV and online
▪ etc.
Moderated, normalised, prioritised
Enterprise search + site search
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 9
10. Locate Verify Monitor Compare Comprehend
Scenarios
Partially inductive
Apply known models
Partially deductive
Identify new types of
behaviour
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 10
11. “While our goal over the long term may be a
parsimonious few, highly effective tactics, our
goal in the short term should be to uncover as
many as we can... Then we can test the tactics
and select the good ones. If we go for closure
too soon… we may miss some valuable
tactics.”
-Marcia Bates, 1979
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 11
12. “Understand the quality performance of a part and module
set in manufacturing and the field so that I can determine if I
should replace the part” – Engineering
“Understand a lead’s underlying positions so that I can
assess the quality of the investment opportunity” – Portfolio
manager
“Understand the cost drivers for this commodity so I can
negotiate better terms with my suppliers and forecast
business risk” – Procurement
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 12
Comprehend:
To generate independent insight by understanding the nature of
meaning of an item or data set
13. “Gain visibility into the parts my colleagues are using in
order to find the best possible part for my assembly” –
Engineering
“Identify dealers at risk of failing and at risk of de-branding
based on performance problems” –Account rep
“identify problem/success areas and where to intervene
and reward” – SVP sales
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 13
Explore:
To investigate an item or data set for the purpose of
knowledge discovery
15. My Twitter home page
allows me to:
Monitor tweets,
followers, interactions
Explore trends, topics,
suggestions
Locate tweets, people,
hashtags
Synthesize new tweets,
retweets
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 15
16. The modes provide the verbs
e.g. Explore <object> in order to achieve <goal>
Objects can be people, events, topics, processes…
But languages also have a grammar…
Scenario analysis: multiple modes
Framework reveals common patterns
Repeating sequences of 2-3 modes
Composite chains
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 16
17. Replace a problematic part
(from sourcing, cost, or
technical perspective)…
… with an equivalent or
better part
… without compromising
quality or cost
Analyze
Compare
Evaluate
UXLabs: User Experience Research + Design + Analytics - www.uxlabs.co.uk 17
18. Exploratory search
Identify opportunities to optimize use of tooling capacity for my
commodity/parts
EExxpplloorree AAnnaallyyzzee EEvvaalluuaattee
Strategic oversight
Monitor & assess commodity status against strategy/plan/target
MMoonniittoorr AAnnaallyyzzee EEvvaalluuaattee
Strategic insight
Understand a lead's underlying positions so that I can assess the
quality of the investment opportunity
AAnnaallyyzzee CCoommpprreehheenndd EEvvaalluuaattee
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 18
19. Insight-driven search
Assess the proper market value for my car
EExxpplloorree AAnnaallyyzzee CCoommpprreehheenndd
Opportunity-driven search
Find useful stuff on my subject topic
EExxpplloorree LLooccaattee EEvvaalluuaattee
Qualified search
Find a van that meets a customer's requirements
LLooccaattee VVeerriiffyy
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 19
20. A common Twitter
sequence:
Explore an author’s
profile & activity
Analyze their activity,
followers, tweets
Evaluate the author and
their relevance/value
= Exploratory Search
EExxpplloorree AAnnaallyyzzee EEvvaalluuaattee
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21. Explore Analyze Comprehend
Comprehend
Locate
Evaluate
Verify
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 21
22. Verify
Analyze Comprehend
Compare
Synthesize
Evaluate
Monitor Analyze
Explore
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 22
23. Site search
Emphasizes ‘Lookup’ modes
▪ e.g. Locate, Verify
Enterprise search
Emphasizes ‘Investigate’ modes
▪ e.g. Analyze, Evaluate
More diverse patterns
Longer, composite chains
UXLabs -User Experience Research and Design - www.uxlabs.co.uk 23
24. Discovery modes
• A lens for understanding information-seeking behaviour
• A language for describing composite patterns
• Can be applied both analytically and generatively
Site Search vs. Enterprise Search
• Common modes, but different patterns
• Shorter chains, less embedding
Implications
• We need to see ‘search’ as part of a broader task lifecycle
• Simplistic metrics may not measure anything of value
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