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A study analyses the search for information in stock photography agencies.
Why is it so interesting to analyse the search systems of stock photography agencies?
These tools have many interesting features.
First, I would highlight that these systems are
at the forefront of information search tools.
These systems are also very easy to use.
Any user can do so regularly.
In fact, the most important commercial image banks
are open and we can all access them,
not necessarily for free.
Finally, another interesting aspect I would highlight is
that they lead the contributions to web semantics.
Which are the most important conclusions?
This study aims to establish the essential basic
and technical characteristics for image banks,
in three very specific and particular areas.
How the information search tools have to be.
How to retrieve that information.
How we see on the screen
the results we have obtained from the search.
And, finally, how to download
the images that the user needs,
according to the editorial use they are intended for.
To what extent can we catalogue images in an automatic way?
These programs should have
systems to help automating tasks or routines.
Like, for example, to have the possibility
of automatically categorizing a set of images,
or also easily inherit a description or metadata that are common to them.
It is also important to be able to generate
different sub products from an original image
depending on how they will be used.
For example: miniatures, low resolution,
medium resolution, high resolution...
These technical requirements are reasonably solved.
They are not very sophisticated since they are already handled
by conventional photographic treatment programs.
What is really important is that the systems include them,
since lacking this kind of help,
the possibility to automatize these tasks,
can really be a disadvantage,
both for the system managers and its users.
Which are the specific uses of this study you are developing?
This study can have a double purpose.
From the point of view of the developers
we provide and show which are the minimum necessary requirements
to develop or produce a system
that conveniently manages digital image banks.
To this day this had not been done.
From the point of view of the experts in information retrieval,
we try to provide data on an area of the information market
that is not very well known.
Before, I mentioned that we found little
literature on this topic.
This has lead us to conclude that this is not a very well known area.
However, this fact contrasts with the high annual turnover
of the information market and the digital image sector,
estimated in hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
So, it would be interesting to reflect on this,
or even develop different approaches that would allow taking advantage
of the economic, or even more labour, potential
of the information market, in this case, on the digital image market.
(Music)