Child Search Framework: A collaborative information retrieval architecture to assist children in the search process

Search engines are traditionally designed to support a single user working alone; however, the literature describes various problems faced by children in the use of this search model. The construction of knowledge is enriched when collaboration is aggregated to search tasks. We propose a collaborative information retrieval architecture for children. The design was guided by the dimensions of 5W+1H (who, what, where, when, why, how) and identified seven remote opportunities for collaboration in the search process. The social search model of the architecture integrates parents and children and aims at improving the search process for children. The architecture uses explicit and implicit social collaboration. Implicit collaboration includes collaborative filtering and content-based filtering using the Protocol for Web Description Resource (POWDER). Intelligent agents assist the coordination of communication, negotiation and collaboration processes.