ProQuest Shows Off Single Search Platform
Attendees of the American Library Association Conference in Washington, D.C. got a glimpse of the future of search as Ann Arbor-based ProQuest unveiled the latest developments for its all-new platform.
Highly anticipated for its promise to unify all ProQuest content in a single framework, the new platform will now include ProQuest Extended Search, a Serials Solutions technology that will enable libraries to connect to other non-ProQuest databases as well. Users will not only discover a broader set of content, but will use the platform to gather, share and create it as well.
The ProQuest platform is the highlight of a wave of new technology being released by the company throughout 2010 and beyond.
"We've built this platform purposefully to set an entirely new standard for what users can get from their libraries," said Marty Kahn, ProQuest CEO. "That means we're aiming at a moving target. We're uncovering both needs and new technologies we can use to address them every day. The new platform is a living service and there's much more to come. In fact, we're doing some very interesting things with visualization technology that we'll announce yet this summer."
The genesis of the new platform is in library requests to capture all ProQuest content in a single search. While unifying the content will speed search results and simplify the administration of e-resources, its real power is in the breadth of content that's exposed to the user. ProQuest's databases are exceptionally diverse, encompassing journals, dissertations, digitized newspapers and books (historic and otherwise), business reports, books, and multimedia of all types that will provide users with a rich set of content in one search. ProQuest Extended Search will enable libraries to enrich results further by building connections to databases from other providers, using Serials Solution's popular clustering technology. Libraries will simply choose the databases they want to add from thousands of options and Serials Solutions will manage the connections for them.
The new platform's sophisticated technology tools will enable users to save, organize and manipulate all the content -- whether from ProQuest or not -- in personal accounts.
ProQuest is also expanding the platform's content manipulation tools. As the platform develops, users will move beyond consuming content to consuming and creating content. The company is exploring this user role with the launch earlier this year of a variety of vertical social networks that connect scholars in subject disciplines. For example, EEBO Interactions enables early modern studies scholars to collaborate with one another and also contribute to Early English Books Online, ProQuest's most celebrated database.
The platform's all-new technology architecture is built from scratch and designed "for purpose," -- each feature addresses specific needs -- and avoids added bells and whistles that don't add value to the user's research process.
The agile development process was informed by "personas" - a dozen highly detailed user profiles - and regular testing with live subjects from every user group. The platform is a blend of new technologies and user-favorites from other legacy ProQuest and its brand family platforms.
ProQuest will begin migrating customers to the new platform in late summer. A careful process is being developed in conjunction with libraries, ensuring a smooth transition. Customers can stay up to date on developments by visiting www.proquest.com.
ProQuest is a unit of Cambridge Information Group. More at www.proquest.com or www.cambridgeinformationgroup.com.
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