A User-centric Framework for Accessing Biological Sources and Tools

Sarah Cohen-Boulakia and Susan Davidson Christine Froidevaux


Biologists face two problems in interpreting their experiments: the
integration of their data with information from multiple heterogeneous
sources and data analysis with bioinformatics tools. It is difficult
for scientists to choose between the numerous sources and tools
without assistance. Following a thorough analysis of
scientists\x{2019} needs during the querying process, we found that
biologists express preferences concerning the sources to be queried
and the tools to be used. Interviews also showed that the querying
process itself the strategy followed differs between scientists. In
response to these findings, we have introduced a user-centric
framework allowing to specify various querying processes.  Then we
have developed the BioGuide system which helps the scientists to
choose suitable sources and tools, find complementary information in
sources, and deal with divergent data. It is generic in that it can be
adapted by each user to provide answers respecting his/her
preferences, and obtained following his/her strategies.