Image Retrieval Interfaces: A User Perspective

Surprisingly little is known about how different users conduct image searches. As a result, even the most sophisticated systems available have limited appeal to the end-user. This paper describes a study eliciting user requirements for future image databases through an online questionnaire. 125 experienced image searchers were questioned about the functions and modes of interaction that they currently use, and those they would like to see in future systems. The results of this survey, and their implications for retrieval systems design, are discussed in some detail.