As the Web grows in size it becomes increasingly important that ways are developed to maximise the efficiency of the search process and index its contents with minimal human intervention. An evaluation is undertaken of current popular search engines which use a centralised index approach. Using a number of search terms and metrics that measure similarity between sets of results, it was found that there is very little commonality between the outcome of the same search performed using different search engines. A semi-automated system for searching the web is presented, the Internet Search Agent (ISA), this employs a method for indexing based upon the idea of "fingerprint types". These fingerprint types are based upon the text and links contained in the web pages being indexed. Three examples of fingerprint type are developed, the first concentrating upon the textual content of the indexed files, the other two augment this with the use of links to and from these files. By looking at the results returned as a search progresses in terms of numbers and measures of content of results for effort expended, comparisons can be made between the three fingerprint types. The ISA model allows the searcher to be presented with results in context and potentially allows for distributed searching to be implemented.

This thesis explores the use of multimodality to communicate retrieved results of Internet search engines. The investigation aimed to investigate suitable multimodal metaphors which would increase the level of usability of Internet search engine interfaces and enhance users` experience in the search activity. The study consisted of three experiments based on questionnaires and Internet search activities with a set of text-based and multimodal interfaces. These interfaces were implemented in two browsing platforms, named AVBRO and AVBRO II. In the first experiment, the efficiency of specific multimodal metaphors to communicate additional information of retrieved results was investigated. The experiment also sought to obtain users` views of these metaphors with a questionnaire. An experimental multimodal interface of the AVBRO platform, which communicated additional information with a combination of three 2D graphs and musical stimuli, was used as a basis for the experiment, together with the Google search engine. The results obtained led to the planning of a second experiment. The aim of this experiment was to obtain and compare the level of usability of four different experimental multimodal interfaces and one traditional text-based interface, all implemented in the AVBRO II platform. Effectiveness, efficiency and users` satisfaction were used as criteria to evaluate the usability of these interfaces. In the third and final experiment the usability analysis of a traditional text-based interface and the two most suitable experimental multimodal interfaces of the AVBRO II platform was further investigated. Learnability, errors rate, efficiency, memorability and users` satisfaction were used as criteria to evaluate the usability of these interfaces. The analysis of the results obtained from these experiments provided the basis for a set of design guidelines for the development of usable interfaces based on a multimodal approach.

La prémisse de la rationalité décisionnelle des agents, généralement définie comme la « prise de décision optimale sous l’information disponible », occupe une place centrale dans la théorie économique, à tel point que, lorsque la rationalité décisionnelle passe à la loupe, c’est souvent l’ensemble de la science économique qui l’est à sa suite. Pourtant, le quotidien abonde de cas ne se conformant pas à une certaine définition de l’optimalité; pour des décisions de faibles enjeux, les agents économiques pourront couper court à leur réflexion et se contenter d’une décision potentiellement sous-optimale afin de minimiser le coût de la prise de décision. Or, avec l’ubiquité d’Internet, l’information et la puissance de calcul sont plus disponibles que jamais, à tel point où le tri de l’information dans la surabondance d’Internet constitue une nouvelle forme de coût de décision. Ce mémoire s’intéresse donc à deux questions concernant la prise de décision avec échéances; la première est: à quels types de décisions, en fonction de la taille de leur enjeu, les agents économiques consacreront-ils le plus de temps de réflexion? La seconde est: à quels types d’informations les agents se fient-ils le plus? Essentiellement, nous testons si les individus optimisent l’effort qu’ils mettent à optimiser . Nous utilisons une méthodologie expérimentale basée sur un jeu-questionnaire, avec incitatifs financiers à la performance, simulant différentes décisions à caractère économique auxquelles des personnes sont appelées à être exposées au cours de leur vie. Comme résultats, nous trouvons une relation concave entre la taille de l’enjeu sur lequel porte une décision et les ressources allouées à la décision. Cette relation s’estompe lorsque les contraintes de temps se resserrent. Nous tentons également de vérifier s’il existe un lien entre et le choix de sources d’informations à des fins de décision et la familiarité de celles-ci pour l’agent, mais ne trouvons pas de relation significative. De plus, nous ne parvenons pas à établir de relation entre le temps consacré à prendre une décision et l’optimalité de celle-ci.

The goal of this research was to determine if the results of a simple comparison algorithm (SCA) could be improved by adding a hyperspace analogue to language model of memory (HAL) layer to form NCA. The HAL layer provides contextual data that otherwise would be unavailable for consideration. It was found that NCA did improve the results when compared to SCA alone. However, NCA added complexity problems that limit its practicality. The complexity of this algorithm is On3 where n is equal to the number of unique symbols in the data. While there is a relativity reasonable soft upper bound for the number of unique symbols used in a language, the complexity still limits the uses of the NCA combined algorithm. The conclusion from this research is that NCA can improve results. This research also suggested that the quality of results might increase as more data is processed by NCA.

This thesis studies how the investor attention proxied by Google search volume affects different aspects of market behavior. My results show that a surge in online attention is associated with an increase in trading activity and stock price volatility, but no effect is detected for daily returns. Yet, if market sentiment is taken into account, the relationship comes to the surface for returns as well. The returns tend to decrease with attention hikes in negative sentiment periods and the opposite is observed for periods of positive sentiment, suggesting that Google web search captures predominately attention of sentiment investors. Moreover, I demonstrate that with the outburst of financial crisis, the interdependence between attention and trading activity was intensified. Lastly, I provide evidence that web search may shed some light on IPO-related puzzles. The initial returns seem to be higher for IPOs that receive above average attention, and are likely to be reversed in long-term. In addition, it is ascertained that web search volume may act as a proxy for market overreaction to the offerings. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-04T19:14:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-06-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O termo barebacking é utilizado pela comunidade gay internacional para nomear o sexo anal desprotegido intencional entre homens que tem sexo com outros homens (HSH). Dado transitar na contramão das políticas de prevenção ao HIV/aids e, mesmo da ideia de cuidados de si tão comum à sociedade atual, pode-se enquadrar o barebacking no que Bourdieu (2010) vai chamar de estilos de vida, ou seja, um conjunto de ações e comportamentos que afrontam o habitus instituído. Nesse sentido, frente ao cenário atual da epidemia de aids, o estudo do barebacking se faz urgente, especialmente através da economia linguística dispensada por seus adeptos. É na internet, através de sites e blogs de pornografia, seguido da própria indústria pornográfica, que o barebacking encontra seu maior meio de expressão, ao passo que ambos os veículos constituem espaços profícuos de pesquisa. Assim, partindo da compreensão do barebacking como um estilo de vida (Bourdieu, 2010) o presente trabalho teve por objetivo investigar os sentidos da exposição ao HIV/aids na perspectiva da prática. Compôs o material de análise os registros escritos efetuados por seguidores de um blog de barebacking sex direcionado a HSH, imagens e símbolos comuns à prática. Os dados foram analisados a partir da economia das trocas linguísticas conforme proposto por Bourdieu (2000) e discutidos sob o olhar de diferentes autores. Os resultados apontam a internet como um importante disseminador das falas que confrontam os discursos instituídos sobre o HIV/aids, a junção entre risco, prazer e perigo na constituição das identidades e do erotismo, a exposição ao HIV/aids como inerente/consciente à prática do barebacking, bem como aspecto importante nos jogos de poder das masculinidades envolvidas na prática, e a importância da pornografia na expressividade do barebacking seja como meio onde temos acesso à maneira como a prática se organiza, seja no jogo entre fetiche e identidade. Conclui-se que, em sua maneira mais singular, o barebacking constitui um estilo de vida que impõe as políticas voltadas ao HIV/aids grandes desafios, sobretudo quando deixam de considerar em suas formulações que o erótico e a sexualidade constituem-se com base em aspectos que fogem a uma regra mais geral de comportamentos esperados e/ou instituídos. / The term Barebacking is used by the international gay community to name intentional unprotected anal sex among men who have sex with men (MSM). A practice which goes against HIV / AIDS prevention policies and even the idea of self-awareness, so common in today's society. Barebacking can be categorized into what Bourdieu (2010) refers to as Lifestyles, that is, a set of actions and behavior that go against the institutionalized habitus. In this sense, facing the current situation of the AIDS epidemic, the study of Barebacking is urgent, especially through the linguistic economy dismissed by its adherents. It is on the Internet, through pornography websites and blogs followed by the pornographic industry itself, that Barebacking finds its greatest means of expression, with both vehicles being a lucrative source of research. Thus, based on the understanding of Barebacking as a lifestyle (BOURDIEU, 2010), the present work aims to investigate the meaning of exposure to HIV / AIDS from a practice perspective. The material for analysis was composed of written records by followers of a Barebacking Sex blog aimed at MSM, as well as images and symbols common to the practice. The data were analyzed based on the economics of linguistic exchanges as proposed by Bourdieu (2000) and discussed by different authors. The results point to: the Internet as an important linguistic market in the expression that confronts the institutionalized discourse on HIV / AIDS; the junction between risk, pleasure and danger in the constitution of identities and eroticism; exposure to HIV / AIDS as inherent / conscious to the practice of Barebacking, as well as an important aspect of the masculinity power games involved in the practice; and the importance of pornography in the expression of Barebacking, as a means where we have access to the way the practice is organized, or in the relationship between fetish and identity. In conclusion, we note that in its most singular way, Barebacking constitutes a lifestyle that imposes great challenges to the HIV / AIDS prevention policies, especially when eroticism and sexuality are not taken into account and are based on aspects that go against a more general rule of expected and / or institutionalized behaviors. / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

The purpose of this thesis is a summary of theoretical knowledge in the field of information retrieval. This document contains mathematical models that can be used for information retrieval algorithms, including how to rank them. There are also examined the specifics of image and text data. The practical part is then an implementation of the algorithm in video shots of the TRECVid 2009 dataset based on high-level features. The uniqueness of this algorithm is to use internet search engines to obtain terms similarity. The work contains a detailed description of the implemented algorithm including the process of tuning and conclusions of its testing.

The present research seeks to increase understanding of cognitive dissonance by exploring the various information sources that may influence the negative feelings that may arise during post-purchase evaluation. Specifically, the author focuses on the impact of consumer opinion seeking, traditional media search, internet search and social media search on cognitive dissonance by employing two studies. In Study 1, depth interviews are collected and analyzed in an effort to gain more insight into the search process and consumers perceptions of the helpfulness and credibility of different information sources. Categories of information sources, categories of which sources were deemed most helpful or credible, and categories of post-purchase evaluations as they relate to cognitive dissonance are drawn from the interviews. Conclusions are drawn from this analysis and a proposed model is provided informed by the emergent categories. The development of hypotheses is also discussed. Study 2 explores the impact of credibility of sources within social media on online furniture purchase decisions. A survey is developed to empirically examine the relationships represented in the model. A pretest is conducted with a sample of 207 respondents. The results of the pretest are used to make changes to the survey instrument for the main study. The main study is conducted using three samples of participants that gained information from one of three sources of information: 1) friends and family member, 2) retailer or 3) other individual (“others”) the participant does not know personally. The findings from the main study indicate that trustworthiness of the source positively impacts consumers’ perceptions of source credibility. Moreover, the results from each of the three samples also provide evidence that cognitive dissonance is less likely to occur when consumers have a positive attitude toward source of information. These findings are especially relevant for retailers as they should develop strategies to enhance trust among their customers in order to increase perceived credibility. In the same vein, retailers should focus on crafting approaches that foster favorable customer attitudes in order to reduce the occurrence of cognitive dissonance. Additional results of the main study are presented along with managerial implications and ideas for future research.

Diploma thesis The Right to be Forgotten on the Internet applies to the functions of Internet search engines, search algorithms and the impact of the digital footprint that on the Internet user essentially leaves. With this issue is, on the one hand, inseparably linked the protection of personal data in the online environment, on the other hand the constitutionally enshrined right to information and other fundamental rights. Not ignored should be also the risk of censorship of the Internet. An application of the right to be forgotten adds a whole new dimension to this problems. The right to be forgotten is inferred from the judgment of the European Court of Justice on 13 May 2014 in the case Costeja versus Google Spain, where an Internet user named Mario Costeja Gonzáles first succeeded with a request of removal of unflattering information about himself from results of the search engine Google. Thus a reform precedent will have a big impact on seeking information on the Internet in the future, since the pronouncement of the judgment about the removal of his personal data may ask any European Internet user. The thesis aims to analyze the issue of right to be forgotten in the context of searching for information on the Internet in the European Internet environment - it means not to be searched on the...