User-Defined Semantic Enrichment of Full-Text Documents: Experiences and Lessons Learned

Abstract. Semantic annotation of digital documents is typically done at metadata level. However, for fine-grained access semantic enrichment of text elements or passages is needed. Automatic annotation is not of sufficient quality to enable focused search and retrieval: either too many or too few terms are semantically annotated. User-defined semantic enrichment allows for a more targeted approach. We developed a tool for semantic annotation of digital documents and conducted a number of studies to evaluate its acceptance by and usability for non-expert users. This paper discusses the lessons learned about both the semantic enrichment process and our methodology of exposing non-experts to semantic enrichment.