*** Apologies for cross-posting ***
The JISC-funded CREE (Contextual Resource Evaluation Environment)
Project has released the results of three areas of its work
investigating the use of Internet search tools within portal and
non-portal environments. All are available on the project website at
http://www.hull.ac.uk/esig/cree/deliverables/index.html. Presentations
describing the work can be found at
http://www.hull.ac.uk/esig/cree/presentations/index.html.
A. Survey results report, comment and spreadsheet
The CREE Survey provides data and analysis of over 2000 responses from
across the UK. The survey addressed the following issues:
- what search tools are used
- what they are used for
- how results should be treated
- views of multiple resource searching
- views on the use of search tools alongside other systems
B. Focus groups report and criteria
The survey was complemented by a series of 13 focus groups across three
institutions. These addressed the same issues as the survey, providing
validation of the survey results but also refinement of the opinions
expressed and greater depth and reasoning behind why these opinions
were held. The criteria under which the focus groups were held is also
provided as assistance for others thinking of using this form of
information gathering, which CREE has found extremely valuable.
C. Investigation of of JSR 168 and WSRP portlet standards
The study of how Internet search tools can be used within portal
frameworks, CREE technical partners at the University of Oxford, EDINA
and the Archaeology Data Service, plus instructional media + magic inc,
have reported on their investigation of the JSR 168 and WSRP portlet
standards for use with existing search tools. An initial investigation
of the standards has been followed by results and feedback on the basis
of experience of implementation.
CREE is currently undertaking the user testing phase of its work,
testing further the findings of the survey and focus groups through the
use of demonstrators, and incorporating the JSR 168 and WSRP portlets
developed by the project partners within a uPortal framework. The
results of this testing, plus final reports on the technical work and
the feasibility of using the portlet standards with communication and
collaboration tools will be forthcoming in Autumn 2005.
Chris Awre
CREE Project Manager
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Chris Awre
Integration Architect
e-Services Integration Group
Brynmor Jones Library
University of Hull
Cottingham Road
Hull HU6 7RX
tel: 01482 465441
email: [log in to unmask]
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