This graduate course covers two hugely popular types of systems: Web search engines and recommender systems. Web search engines attempt to locate information items (e.g., documents, Web pages) based on user specifications. These systems have developed from traditional systems for bibliogrphic information retrieval dating back 40 years. With the exception of Web browsers, search engines arguably are the most widely-used tool for accessing information on the Web. Recommeder systems discover information items (e.g., people, products) that are likely to be of interest to users. This course will explore both types of systems, underlining their shared principles. Roughly, two thirds of the course will be devoted to search engines and one third to recommender systems.
The foundation courses: SWE-510: Object-oriented Programming, INFS 501: Discrete and Logical Structures, INFS 515: Computer Organization, INFS 590: Program Design and Data Structures. Note: prerequisites are strictly enforced!
Two exams and four or five homework assignments (approximate weights are indicated in parenthesis):
Dr. Ami Motro
Office: S&T2-455, Telephone: 993-1665
E-mail: ami@gmu.edu, http://www.cs.gmu.edu/~ami
Office hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 3:00-4:00
TBA
Wednesday 4:30-7:10, IN-133