Transcript
Page 1: RSNA research - final presentation

Serena Cangiano

New requirements for future users and users of

research social networking applications

Intermediate presentation of results

31 July 2012Canobbio

Skype Conference with Petra Kauer-Ott

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

Summary of the project proposal and goalsAssumptions

The use of research social networks for research communication and dissemination and for fund raising activities is not yet widespread within research communities, particularly in Switzerland, due to several weaknesses of RSNAs, such as the following:– they offer limited functionalities and services to fulfill specific needs related to academic research activities;– they usually do not support communication and networking within all stakeholders of academic research (funding institutions, universities, private partners such as companies and non profit organizations).(funding institutions, universities, private partners such as companies and non profit organizations).

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

Summary of the project proposal and goalsGoals

– To gather all necessary information for designing a RSNA that is tailored to Swiss research communities and that supports the inclusion of research stakeholders.

– To mapping and evaluating existing RSNAs and to provide the description of improvements that must be implemented to enhance the use of RSNAs within academia.

– To define the requirements for an English-based platform for Swiss researchers and for foreign researchers who want to collaborate with Swiss Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. and for foreign researchers who want to collaborate with Swiss Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

MethodologyResearch activities

+ a benchmarking study of the existing research social networking applications+ a survey of users+ the definition of a requirements document(an advanced design draft and a cost-benefit analysis)

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

1. Benchmarking study of the existing research social networking applications Case studies

Multidisciplinary RSNAs1. Academia.edu2. Researchgate.net 3. Mendeley.com4. Epernicus.com

Discipline specific RSNAs5. Labroots.com 6. Lalisio.com 7. Scitable.com8. Nature Network 9. Biomedexpert 10. Methodspace 5. Labroots.com 6. Lalisio.com 7. Scitable.com8. Nature Network 9. Biomedexpert 10. Methodspace 5. Labroots.com 6. Lalisio.com 7. Scitable.com8. Nature Network 9. Biomedexpert 10. Methodspace 5. Labroots.com 6. Lalisio.com 7. Scitable.com8. Nature Network 9. Biomedexpert 10. Methodspace

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

1. Benchmarking study of the existing research social networking applications Analysis categories (es. Academia.edu)

Functions Actions enabledActions enabled

Connecting creating a personal profile, connecting with Academia.edu members, inviting people, inviting people of external networks (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter), following topics and people, consulting journals, raising questions, looking for jobs.

Searching finding profiles, universities, research interests, papers.

Organizing

Sharing uploading papers in pdf format, embedding scribd, updating the status, uploading information about books and lectures, sharing teaching materials and blog posts.

Collaborating tagging journals.

Promoting posting news automatically on Facebook, posting job opportunities.

Monitoring monitoring views of profiles and papers, receiving notifications about views of personal profiles.

Communicating sending private messages, asking questions to network members, updating the status

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

1. Benchmarking study of the existing research social networking applications Highlighted functionalitiesPlatform Highlighted functionalities

Academia.edu - Statistics on views of profiles and papers - Notifications on views of personal profile - Embedding scribd - Tagging journals - Posting news automatically on Facebook - Connecting with people through external services

ResearchGate Following topics - Promoting good contents (review badly a content) - Posting references on Facebook and Twitter - Follwing topics - Receiving live feed on notes, references from scientific databases, links, pictures, documents related to topics of interest - Finding personal publications (author matching function)

Mendeley Browsing groups and publications by disciplines and subdisciplines - Sharing annotations with network members - Tracking readership - Saving members’ publications in personal repository

Epernicus - Creating a personal page (profile sections: background, research, CV, photo, honors, publications, posters & presentations, expertise, one figure, websites, docs) - Exploring genealogy - Finding groups by size and categories - Tracking invitations

Labroots.com - Monitoring connections with industries - Sharing videos and podcasts - Adding widgets in the homepage sidebar

Lalisio.com - Filter by language

Scitable - Creating classrooms - Creating custom e-books

Nature Network - Adding applications to the dashboard - Arranging the applications in the dashboard

BiomedExpert - Visualizing connections (network and geo-network views) - Finding organizations; searching network members of first level (direct contact) - Searching network members of first level (co-authors)

Methodspace.com

- sharing call for papers - sharing funding opportunities - embedding badges of the network on personal websites - adding apps developed by third parties

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

1. Benchmarking study of the existing research social networking applications Evaluation of RSNAs

Evaluation elements–  GUI design, concerning the aesthetic and functional quality of the interface elements;–  Usability, the effectiveness of the functionalities, navigation strategy and contents organization of the application– Contents and search criteria, the typology of contents accessible through the application and the criteria for searching them within the application the typology of contents accessible through the application and the criteria for searching them within the application the typology of contents accessible through the application and the criteria for searching them within the application

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

2. Survey of usersQuestionnaire structure

Research social networking applicationsHow do they support your research activities?

questionnaire accessible on-line at:http://lcvsupsi.wufoo.eu/forms/research-social-networking-applications

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2. Survey of usersQuestionnaire structure

Research social networking applicationsHow do they support your research activities?

Call for contributions through:- emails- research social networking applications

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2. Survey of usersQuestionnaire structure

Measuring

– Usage of RSNAs– networking and dissemination functionalities (which are the most useful?)– available contents (which contents are more useful)– search criteria (which are the best modalities to find contents)– Openness to other kinds of users (other stakeholders)– Fund raising and dissemination activities

– Openness to other kinds of users (other stakeholders)– Fund raising and dissemination activities

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2. Survey of usersSome results

The survey is still work in progress due to:- technical issues - lack of participation

We collected 16 questionnaire right now.We expected to complete the survey and to provide a report of the results by the first week of September.We expected to complete the survey and to provide a report of the results by the first week of September.

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3. Requirements documents (version 1.0)The Extranet platform

It contains the system requirements of an on-line social networking service addressed to networking and dissemination activities within Swiss academia.

The name of the service is Extranet, an on-line social networking platform aim at creating connections among researchers, funding institutions and third parties.an on-line social networking platform aim at creating connections among researchers, funding institutions and third parties.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

3. Requirements documents (version 1.0)Core features of Extranet

Extranet core business features concern the opportunity of supporting research and networking activities in a broader way:1) putting in contact different research stakeholders through a shared on-line application.2) creating a digital catalogue of the scientific research community in every country. 3) introducing open science tools for developing research project.4) connecting thematic research networks of different countries. of different countries.

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3. Requirements documents (version 1.0)Core contents of Extranet

– Profiles pages of different kind of users– List of network members – List of research projects– List of research proposals– Updates and list of research funding opportunities– Call for papers– Call for papers

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3. Requirements documents (version 1.0)Core functionalities of Extranet

– Registration– Profile page – Research starter– Funds finder

– Research finder

– Project pages

– Extranet Sync button

– Openness preferences

– Openness preferences – Openness preferences

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

3. Requirements documents (version 1.0)User characteristics

The finished product will be used by:- Researchers working at universities in Switzerland or collaborating in researches involving Swiss universities.

Technical background: good- Employees of companies, associations, organizations entitled to participate to research programs.

Technical background: low- Members of research funding institutions managing web platforms of the institution (web master, content managers, etc.).

Technical background: high

Technical background: highTechnical background: high

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3. Requirements documents (version 1.0)General constraints

- the necessity to develop the platform through the use of open source systems and easy to use development frameworks.- the necessity to implement it according the

principles of modularity, interoperability and high customization in order to allow centers managing university internet infrastructures to set up the platform in their

country.- the necessity to develop the platform through the use of open source systems and easy to use development frameworks.- the necessity to implement it according the principles of modularity, interoperability and high customization in order to allow centers managing university internet infrastructures to set up the platform in their country.

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3. Requirements documents (version 1.0)Assumptions and dependencies

Assumptionsthe opportunity of connecting the different Extranet in order to facilitate the international cooperation while, at same time, keeping the networks working for specific countries.

Dependencies1. The creation of university accounts automatically generate a profile page that users, subsequently, can complete with further information while using the system.2. Funding institutions should implement technologies such as RSS feed generator for the pages on which they publish call for projects, deadlines and information about funding programs. 3. Promotion within the university. A specific promotion campaign should inform potential users of the system and give information about how to use it.1. The creation of university accounts automatically generate a profile page that users, subsequently, can complete with further information while using the system.2. Funding institutions should implement technologies such as RSS feed generator for the pages on which they publish call for projects, deadlines and information about funding programs. 3. Promotion within the university. A specific promotion campaign should inform potential users of the system and give information about how to use it.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

3.1 Specific requirementsUser requirements

- the system should allow users to customise contents and information of every macro section without defining filters and key topics at every access.- the information and contents of sections such as “Funds finder” should be updated often in order to avoid that researchers keep searching information by directly access to websites of funding institutions.- list of network members should be updated (every researcher should have a profile page on the platform).- interface solutions should be modern and usable and provide a good user experience.

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3.2 Specific requirementsSystem and Integration Requirements

See page 7 of the report: Requirement documents.

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3.3 Specific requirementsUser interface requirements

Application mock-ups

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• HomepageThe homepage features a payoff that describes the core functions of the application

It features three different access to the registration or sign in form.

It displays featured projects taken from the system database.

It displays featured projects taken from the system database.

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2. Profile page. Updates dashboardsThe profile page features the updates dashboard where all notifications about the updates are collected. The sidebar contains the profile pictures and the disciplines, topics and competences of the user.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

2.1 Profile page. Profile informationThe profile page displays the information about the user such as the biography and the list of projects and publications.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

3. Research starterThe research starter presents a list of proposal by displaying a preview with the proposal title, the name of the author and the number of people following the proposal.Proposals can be filtered by user typology.

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3.1. Research starter with filtersUsers can customize the access to the research starter by setting up the preferred discipline and topics.

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4. Funds finderThe fund finder of the Institution is a dashboard of widgets displaying RSS feeds from different institutions. Users can collect in the sidebar the list of feeds and decide the arrangement of the widget.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

4.1 Funds finder. Example with contentsThe feeds of the funds finder can be sorted by priority.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

5. Research finderThe research projects are displayed according to the topics filters. Users can set the topics filters according to their favorites. Two tabs separate the research projects in two groups: on-going and archived.

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

6. Call for papers finderThe section is a collaborative calendar with two main tabs: general (all conference by selected topics) and my calls (all the calls that users list as favorite).

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

5. Next steps

1. Completion of the Requirements documents with the technological requirements and the cost and benefit analysis2. Completion and evaluation of the survey about the users’needs3. Dissemination and further developments3. Dissemination and further developments

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

4. ConclusionsDissemination and further developments

1. Dissemination through the website:http://researchsocialnetworks.wordpress.com

2. SUPSI Research Day. 6-7 September 2012.

3. Participation to the topic stream of Open Knowledge Festival: Open research and education

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New requirements for future users and uses of research social networking applications- SUPSI RSNA.8

Thank you


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