Preliminary Results from the FILTER Image Categorisation and Description Exercise

Jill Evans and Paul Shabajee

International Conference " DC-2002: Metadata for e-Communities: Supporting Diversity and Convergence" Florence, October, 13-17, 2002 / Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Firenze ( web site)
(ReLIS:dcm:dcflor:p:6)

Abstract:

Although there are now vast numbers of digital images available via the Web, it is still the case that not enough is known or understood about how humans perceive and recognise image content, and use human language terms as a basis for retrieving and selecting images. Consequently, we cannot be sure that the image resources we are creating within the constraints of orthodox description models are actually being found, accessed and used by our target audiences. There is an increasing belief that the difficulties of image management and description should be led and defined by the needs of users and by their information seeking behaviours. The Focusing Images for Learning and Teaching – an Enriched Resource (FILTER) project is investigating, through an online image description exercise, the ways that users describe different types of images. 41 images of varying original types and subject content were placed online. Individuals were invited to participate in the exercise by describing both the subject content and 'type' of each image. Through analysis of the exercise results, FILTER hopes to obtain an understanding of the ways in which people describe images and the factors that influence their approaches to image description; FILTER will also examine the resulting implications for visual resources metadata. Preliminary analysis of data indicates that there is little consensus on the use of terms for image description or on categorisation of images into 'types'. Initial findings also indicate that certain image types may be easier to categorise than others. Analysis will continue over the next few months with the object of identifying common themes or patterns amongst participants.

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