PIXUS - The JISC Image
Portal Demonstrator
Portals & Portlets 2003
e-Science Institute
Sandy Buchanan
sandy@scran.ac.uk
Project Aims
We aim to build a fully operational, highly functional
demonstrator image portal, providing a suitable
platform and basis to examine the issues and validity
of implementing a full service.
The project also aims to show how a full service
image portal can be used across further and higher
education to enrich and develop the learning and
research process.
The People
SCRAN
„ SCRAN built and manages a database of over
200,000 digital images.
„ SCRAN has close ties with the world of education,
and has developed user-centric ‘products’ that
enrich learners’ and teachers’ experiences.
System Simulation Limited
„ SSL has a great deal of technical expertise and
delivers quality information management products
to current image collection holders.
The team will also collaborate with other projects
and organisations working with digital images in a
learning environment.
Deliverables
By 31 October 2003 the project will deliver:
A fully functional demonstrator. This will be underpinned by interoperable
standards, enabling a range of searching/browsing and viewing functions across
eight image collections.
These collections include :
SCRAN 267k
VADS 30k
Bristol BioMed 8.5k
Wellcome Foundation 160k
•
AMICO 98k
HELIX 45k
Courtauld Institute 40k
EDINA
Approx 650,000 images in total
A series of reports and specifications for a full service image portal
Project Overview
Progress to Date
Project plan delivered
Data on collections gathered, via questionnaire and
face to face
Baseline metadata standard developed,
based on Dublin Core
Initial user interface design created
First 4 collections integrated
Initial evaluation carried out
Initial Evaluation Results
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Is easy to navigate
10
13
3
-
-
Has a pleasant look & feel
14
10
1
1
-
Helps me find relevant images for my purposes
3
14
8
1
-
Retrieves images quickly
5
8
5
8
-
Presents search results in a usable form
8
15
2
1
-
Shows where images come from
15
8
1
2
-
Explains what I can do with images once I’ve
found them
1
3
7
14
1
Provides help when I need it
-
10
11
5
-
Inspires me to use images in my work
4
15
6
1
-
Will be a valuable resource for me
8
10
7
1
-
Pixus image portal…
Current Activities
Evaluating phase one
Reviewing Metadata standard
Integrating Phase two collections
Platform
Index+ Bridge:
„
seamless searching across local and remote online collections
„
automatic datamodel mapping
„
extendable channel architecture
„
current bridge channels are Z39.50, RPCXML, perl/shell scripting
Index+ Aggregator:
„
OAIPMH harvesting
„
harvesting scheduler
„
automatic datamodel mapping
Index+ for local data storage:
„
service profiles for targets
„
harvested metadata
„
other locally hosted surrogates
Client building tools: gateways for web, Z39.50, OAIPMH, etc
Next Steps
Analyse findings from phase one evaluation
Adopt learnings from phase one into phase two work,
as we….
„ Continue lines of research
„ Refine metadata schema / standards
„ Evolve user interface design
„ Integrate remaining collections
Data Issues
Data Diversity
„ Metadata
„ Mapping
„ Vocabulary
Data Handling
„ Repository v Remote
„ Varying image sizes
„ Image cropping (unacceptable?)
„ Harvesting thumbnails (unacceptable?)
Usability Issues
Functionality at Portal v Collection
„ Thick / thin portal
„ Additional functionality at collection server
Learning / Teaching
„ Diversity of use
„ Variety of search methods
„ Lack of awareness / experience of image use
„ Domain specific cataloguing
Rights Issues
Controlling access
Limitations on display
Limitations on harvesting
Branding
Ethical concerns
Watermarking
Questions?
We expect PIXUS to bring many benefits to users in
the FE/HE community, including:
Single point of access to a huge number of images
Potential for use of ‘plug in’ services such as CBIR,
RSS and collections level description
Development of thematic narratives
Inspiring the development of learning and teaching
materials
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