orland.hoeber.net

Projects

Below is a list of some of the more interesting projects that I have worked on in recent years.

Research Projects

WordBars (2006 - present)

In this work, we visually represent the frequencies of terms in the search results as a histogram. The users can use these terms to re-sort and explore the search results, as well as refine their queries.

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, Evaluating WordBars in exploratory Web search scenarios, Information Processing & Management, 2007 (to appear).

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, A unified interface for visual and interactive Web search, In Proceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Communications, Internet, and Information Technology, 2007.

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, Interactive Web Information Retrieval Using WordBars, In Proceedings of the IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence, 2006.

 

Concept Highlighter (2006 - present)

In this project, we used a single-pass fuzzy clustering algorithm to cluster the search results with respect to the matched concepts from the concept knowledge base, and represented these results in a visual and interactive interface.

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, Visually exploring concept-based fuzzy clusters in web search results, In Proceedings of the Fourth International Atlantic Web Intelligence Conference, 2006.

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, Exploring web search results using coordinated views, In Proceedings of the International Conference on Coordinated & Multiple Views in Exploratory Visualization, 2006.

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, A model for interactive web information retrieval, In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Smart Graphics, 2006.

 

HotMap (2005 - present)

Our goal in this research is to explore methods for presenting web search results in a visual manner, and to support the interactive exploration of web search results.

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, A comparative user study of web search interfaces: HotMap, Concept Highlighter, and Google, In Proceedings of the IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence, 2006.

O. Hoeber and X. D. Yang, The visual exploration of web search results using HotMap, In Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Visualization, 2006.

O. Hoeber, Using visualization to support web search tasks, Presented at the University of Regina Graduate Students' Research Conference 2006. Recipient of the best oral presentation award.

 

VisiQ (2005 - present)

In this research, we investigated the use of a visual method for refining web search queries. We generated a concept knowledge base using the ACM Computing Classification System, and allowed users to interactively refine their queries in a visual manner using this information.

O. Hoeber, X. D. Yang, Y. Yao, VisiQ: supporting visual and interactive query refinement, Web Intelligence and Agent Systems, an International Journal, 2007 (to appear).

O. Hoeber, X. D. Yang, and Y. Yao, Visualization support for interactive query refinement, In Proceedings of the IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence, 2005.

 

Concept Knowledge Base (2004-2005)

Using the conceptual semantic theories as a foundation, we developed a concept knowledge base using the knowledge stored in the Open Directory Project.

O. Hoeber, X. D. Yang, and Y. Yao, Conceptual query expansion, In Proceedings of the Atlantic Web Intelligence Conference, 2005.

 

The Impacts of Body Checking (2004 - present)

In this project, we developed an online questionnaire delivery and management toolkit for longitudinal research. The project is studying attitudes toward body checking in minor hockey.

O. Hoeber, E. Karreman, H. Riemer, L. Hoeber, Comparing online and mail survey research methods in longitudinal research, Presented at the North American Society for Sport Management Annual Conference (NASSM 2006), 2006.

O. Hoeber. Security considerations for online research, Invited lecture given to the University of Regina Research Ethics Board, 2006.

E. Karreman and O. Hoeber, Using online survey methods in long-term research projects, Presented at the University of Regina Graduate Students' Research Conference 2006.

O. Hoeber, H. Riemer, K. Dorsch, L. Hoeber, The application of web-based survey research methods to longitudinal designs, Presented at the North American Society for Sport Management Annual Conference (NASSM 2005), 2005.

 

Other Projects

North American Society for Sport Management (2006 - present)

Managed the development of a dynamic web site using Drupal. Specified the requirements for new modules to implement the custom site requirements.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: Quadrant (Software Development)

 

HSPnet (2005)

Worked on the development of the HSPnet project, a web-based system for coordinating and streamlining the clinical placements for health sciences students.

Tools: ASP, Visual Basic, Microsoft SQL Server

Contract Employer: T.C. Roberts & Associates

 

Cascadia Fine Art (2005)

Developed secure access tools and personalized web pages.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: PopGun Media (Project Management & Site Design)

 

Lohn Caulder (2005)

Developed a set of content management tools and public data presentation pages for online newsletters and a topical library.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: PopGun Media (Project Management & Site Design)

 

U'Mista Cultural Society (2005)

Developed a set of content management tools and public data presentation pages for the collections, gift shop, and document uploads. This included support for Unicode text descriptions for the collections and gift shop data.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: Unlimited Digital (Project Management) & PopGun Media (Site Design)

 

HomeWorks (2005 - 2006)

Developed a set of content management tools and public data presentation pages for news releases, newsletter and promotions distribution, as well as other dynamic content features.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: PopGun Media (Project Management & Site Design)

 

NASSM 2005 Conference (2004 - 2005)

(This site is no longer active since the conference is over.)

Developed the web site for the North American Society for Sport Management Conference. This included online registration for the conference, administration tools for credit card processing of the registration fees, and online conference abstracts database.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

 

Museum of Anthropology (2004 - 2005)

Developed a set of content management tools and public data presentation pages for news releases, exhibitions, and the gift shop.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: Unlimited Digital (Project Management) & PopGun Media (Site Design)

 

National Aboriginal Diabetes Association (2004)

Developed a set of content management tools and public data presentation pages for news releases and document uploads.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: Unlimited Digital (Project Management) & PopGun Media (Site Design)

 

British Columbia Centre For Disease Control (2003 - 2004)

Developed a completely dynamically generated web site for the BCCDC. This included a complete set of content management tools, and a custom Intranet that adds additional content to the pages for authenticated users.

Tools: PHP and MySQL

Partners: Cogeny (Site Design) & Quadrant (Software Development)

 

Ray-Tracing & QuickTime VR (2003)

The main class assignment for the CS 805 class was to implement a ray-tracing algorithm and use it to render CT scan volume data. I extended this work to move the camera and render the data at 10 degree increments. The resulting images were converted into a QuickTime VR movie.

 

SynApps & SynApps Awards (1999 - 2002)

As an employee of UBC, I developed a secure online graduate school application system. This system included tools for the departmental management of applications, and tools for management of the system settings. It was extended into SynApps Awards in 2002 to support graduate student awards applications and processing.

SynApps is in use by the University of British Columbia, the University of Calgary, McMaster University, and the University of Western Ontario.

 

© 2006. Orland Hoeber.

"Regardless of how complex computers and software have become, the human mind is still far more complex." -- Orland Hoeber, 2006.