Interaction design for literature-based discovery

Rapid growth in the scientific literature makes it increasingly difficult for scientists to keep abreast of findings outside their own narrowing fields of expertise. To help biomedical researchers address this problem, LitLinker uses literature-based discovery to find new connections between biomedical terms that could lead to new directions in research. In this paper, we discuss the design of an interface that supports researchers' interactive exploration of the identified connections. Because the interface suggests many possible new connections, researchers must be able to understand how connections are established and to evaluate those connections based on their own expertise. Based on the results of our user study, we have further tailored the interface to support the work processes of biomedical researchers. LitLinker's interaction design promotes user-comprehension of the complex relationships among connected terms and allows for dialogue with researchers on the use of literature in scientific discovery.