My apology if you receive multiple copies of this announcement.
--
Massimo


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                          ACM SIGIR '99 Workshop on

                    Evaluation of Web Document Retrieval

                    http://www.dei.unipd.it/~ims/sigir99/

          University of California, Berkeley, USA - August 19, 1999

                     Call for Papers and Participation

                    Deadline postponed to June 18, 1999

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Background

Since the early days of Information Retrieval evaluation permitted to
have insights about IR processes and then to improve retrieval systems
effectiveness. Diverse projects, such as TREC and Mira have been
addressing for some years different issues of evaluation.

Many issues of the Web pose new challenges on evaluating Web document
retrieval processes. To name but a few, hypertextual structure, rapid
evolution, high heterogeneity, and metadata make evaluation of Web
document retrieval rather different from classical evaluation
methodologies. The presence of links make browsing-based retrieval a
rule than an exception, and then browsing effectiveness should be
evaluated as integrated with traditional query-based functions. The
rapid evolution of the Web may make retrieval system effectiveness
difficult to keep over time. The heterogeneity of Web documents make
classical IR techniques poorly effective. Content description-oriented
metadata would allow to reduce and control Web document heterogeneity,
but their usefulness is still to be evaluated.

About the workshop

In this workshop we will investigate in depth the evaluation of the use of
diverse content descriptive data (e.g. metadata) and search strategies for
Web document retrieval.

Topics include, but are not limited to, innovative evaluation methodologies
concerning:

   * the use of metadata and other content descriptive data,
   * browsing and querying Web documents,
   * the construction of Web document collections, and
   * search engines and search tools.

The workshop will include position paper presentations and discussion, with
an emphasis on the discussion. The organizers will select position papers
for presentation and arrange the presentations and discussion based on the
interests of the attendees. The organizers may invite other presentations as
well.

Participation

Two types of participation are expected:

   * Those interested in making a presentation at this workshop should
     submit a position paper of no more than 2,000 words in HTML on the WWW
     and submit the URL for the paper.
   * Those interested in participating, but not presenting papers, should
     submit via e-mail a statement of interest, not to exceed 500 words.
     This should clearly state what aspect(s) of the workshop reflect their
     research interest. These will be used to select papers.

Both types of submissions are due on Friday, June 18th. Decisions will be
made no later than Friday, June 25th. In the case of paper submission, the
final camera-ready papers are due in Postscript on Friday, July 9th. Working
notes will be made available to all participants at the workshop.

All the submissions should be sent both to: Maristella Agosti
([log in to unmask]) and Massimo Melucci ([log in to unmask]).

Note to authors: we are seeking preliminary or draft papers - you will
retain copyright ownership and may submit your paper elsewhere for more
formal, subsequent publication.

Requests for further information should be sent to Massimo Melucci
([log in to unmask]).

Organization

Workshop organizers:

Maristella Agosti E-mail: [log in to unmask]
                  Phone: +39 049 827 7650
Massimo Melucci   E-mail: [log in to unmask]
                  Phone: +39 049 827 7694
                  Dipartimento di Elettronica e Informatica
                  Universita' di Padova
                  Via Gradenigo 6/a
                  35131 Padova, Italy
                  Fax: +39 049 827 7699

Timetable

 Position Paper or Statement of Interest URL
 Submission:                                        June 18, 1999.
 Notification:                                      June 25, 1999.
 Camera-ready copy of final paper:                  July 9, 1999.

 SIGIR Conference:                                  August 15th - 18th,
                                                    1999.
 Workshop:                                          August 19, 1999.

Further information

General information on SIGIR '99 are available through the SIGIR '99
home page.
	http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/conferences/sigir99/

Information on all SIGIR workshops can be found at the URL: SIGIR
SIGIR'99 Workshops.
	http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/conferences/sigir99/workshops.html

If you are considering attending SIGIR or this workshop, use the SIGIR page
to register your interest in participation.


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