ImAccess

ImAccess aims at studying open access to image information. Image collections and images shared in social media platforms are commonly used as research material in social science and humanities.  However, despite their wide use, images may not be openly available for research purposes. Further, many supports available for the researchers have been designed from data-centric or information management perspective.  Contrary to this, we take the researchers’ perspective by applying task-based information interaction approach to study how the images are used as research material.

We will collect interviews and demonstrations of image use situations. Cognitive access points to the images are analyzed, which contribute to support designs. These will apply machine learning content descriptions and natural language processing. The novel prototype system will be evaluated with a task-based experiment. The research will yield knowledge about accessing images, how to support this with search systems, and to open science practices at large.