Context-aware recommendations using topic maps technology for the enhancement of the creativity process

Abstract

Learning can be observed in the creativity process. When this process is supported by a Creativity Support Tool (CST), considering the context in which ideas are developed, as well as the context around the user himself and the task he is carrying out can potentially enhance creativity.The tool's awareness of such context can be exploited in the offering of useful context-aware recommendations to the users on topics such as relevant resources, people, ideas, projects, et cetera. These recommendations can help users during the creativity process and the learning involved, by providing productive stimuli. In the work presented in this chapter we focus on describing a method for enhancing the creativity process through context-aware recommendations. The method uses ontologies for the knowledge representation of context and the topic maps technology for storing, managing, and delivering content used as recommendations. Furthermore we present the software system that has been developed to support this method in a particular collaborative CST, as well as its evaluation. © 2012, IGI Global.