INFORMATION-RETRIEVAL - AN OVERVIEW OF SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

The paper gives an overview of characteristics of information retrieva l (IR) systems. The characteristics are identified from the descriptio ns of 23 IR systems. Four IR models are discussed: the Boolean model, the vector model, the probabilistic model and the connectionistic mode l. Twelve other characteristics of IR models are identified: search in termediary, domain knowledge, relevance feedback, natural language int erface, graphical query language, conceptual queries, full-text IR, fi eld searching, fuzzy queries, hyptertext integration, machine learning , and ranked output. Finally, the relevance of IR systems for the Worl d Wide Web is established. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.