Set-based VS. Entity-based Browsing

Fig. 1. The class browser panel and the object browser panel

In the visual data browser of Naver Semantic Movie Search, user may explicitly select the browsing mode between set-based or entity(object)-based. The class browser panel can be closed or opened. (Fig. 1) If the class browser panel is closed, the browsing mode is changed into the entity-based mode.

The set-based data browsing is possible in the set-based mode. In the entity-based browsing mode, you may not initiate browsing from a set of entities but may only initiate browsing from a single entity. So, in order to keep browsing, a specific object(entity) must be selected.

Let's start browsing with "Ridley Scott" in the entity-based mode. Assume we are at the second column. With the class browser closed, no property links are shown to follow. A specific object must be selected. Select the Gladiator object. If you click the image of the Gladiator object, the labeled links are popped up and the other objects are dimmed (disabled). (Fig. 2) Select the cast link. Now, in the 3rd column all the actor or actress appeared in Gladiator are displayed. (Fig. 3)

Users may have hard time to understand the set-based browsing. It might be a good idea that the entity-based mode as the default. But currently the default is the set-based mode.

Fig 2. Select the Gladiator object, then the labeled links are popped up and other objects are dimmed.

Fig 3. Follow the cast link of Gladiator, then all the actors are displayed in the 3rd column.