Keyword search and evaluation over relational databases: an outlook to the future

Abstract

This position paper discusses the need for considering keyword search over relational databases in the light of broader systems, where keyword search is just one of the components and which are aimed at better supporting users in their search tasks. These more complex systems call for appropriate evaluation methodologies which go beyond what is typically done today, i.e. measuring performances of components mostly in isolation or not related to the actual user needs, and, instead, able to consider the system as a whole, its constituent components, and their inter-relations with the ultimate goal of supporting actual user search tasks.