Query-based multicontexts for knowledge base browsing: An evaluation

Abstract

In [7], we introduced the query-based multicontext theory, which allows to define a virtual space of views on ontological data. Each view is then materialised as a formal context. While this formal context can be visualised in a usual formal concept analysis framework such as Conexp or ToscanaJ, [7] also briefly described how the approach allowed the creation of a novel navigation framework for knowledge bases. The principle of this navigation is based on supporting the user in defining pertinent views. The purpose of this article is to discuss the benefits of the browsing interface. This discussion is performed, on the one hand, by comparing the approach to other Formal Concept Analysis based frameworks. On the other hand, it exposes the preliminary evaluation of the visualisation of formal contexts by comparing the display of a lattice to two other approaches based on trees and graphs. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.