The sentient map and its application to e-learning

The sentient map is a new paradigm for visual information retrieval. It enables the user to view data as maps, so that gestures, and more specifically c-gestures (command gestures, represented by mouse clicks and keystrokes), can be used for the interaction between the user and the multimedia information system. Different c-gestures are then dynamically transformed into spatial/temporal queries (σ-queries) for multimedia information sources and databases. An electronic learning environment involving many academic institutions serves as a testbed to evaluate this approach