Computing and Information Systems - Research Publications

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Finding and Exploring Health Information with a Slider-Based User Interface

Pang, PC-I ; Verspoor, K ; Pearce, J ; Chang, S ; Georgiou, A ; Schaper, LK ; Whetton, S (IOS PRESS, 2016)

Despite the fact that search engines are the primary channel to access online health information, there are better ways to find and explore health information on the web. Search engines are prone to problems when they are used to find health information. For instance, users have difficulties in expressing health scenarios with appropriate search keywords, search results are not optimised for medical queries, and the search process does not account for users' literacy levels and reading preferences. In this paper, we describe our approach to addressing these problems by introducing a novel design using a slider-based user interface for discovering health information without the need for precise search keywords. The user evaluation suggests that the interface is easy to use and able to assist users in the process of discovering new information. This study demonstrates the potential value of adopting slider controls in the user interface of health websites for navigation and information discovery.