Dynamic Taxonomies

End-user interactive access to complex information is one of the key functionalities of knowledge management systems. Traditionally, access paradigms have focused on retrieval of data on the basis of precise specifications: examples of this approach include queries on structured database systems, and information retrieval. However, most search tasks, and notably those typical of a knowledge worker, are exploratory and imprecise in essence: the user needs to explore the information base, find relationships among concepts, and thin alternatives out in a guided way. Examples of this type of access include the selection of the “right” product to buy, of a candidate for a job, but also finding the likely cause of a malfunction, and so forth. Indeed, exploratory access applies to an extremely wide range of practical situations. Traditional access methods are not helpful in this context, and new access paradigms are needed. Effective end-user access requires a holistic approach, in which modeling, interface, and interaction issues are considered together.