Human memory is limited and selective. During complex information-seeking tasks, searchers often rely on notes, photocopies, print-outs and other external memory aids to keep track of their progress, strategize, and record information for reuse. Computers can record searcher actions and other information in computer applications automatically. This information can be reused to enhance human memory in various ways, it can be presented to the user through action history displays, new user tools (such as a search result collection system) can be developed to support the user, the search system can use it to analyze future actions and display similarities or differences, etc. The goal of this research is to identify potential application areas for history information to enhance information-seeking user interfaces.
The focus user group of the research is attorneys in litigation, for whom searching legal databases such as Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis is central to their professional responsibilities and tasks. These databases contain court opinion, journal articles, news and other types of information. The attorneys often work on cases over a long time period and search for information all through the lifetime of the case. The information found in searches is incorporate into briefs, memos and other documents written by the attorney, it influences the knowledge and decisions and is often shared with coworkers. Search histories can support many of these functions. Data on current search history use and potential application areas was collected through interviews, observations and participatory design session with practicing attorneys. Qualitative analysis methods were used to examine the data collected and to create a framework to describe the role and application of search histories, and to propose user interface design functions incorporating search history information.