ContextMiner

= ContextMiner = toc ContextMiner is a web based system that allows users to collect, analyze and present web content. The system searches the web for content based upon the searchers parameters and then stores this data in modifiable campaigns. The system allows users to interact with the content they have collected by adding tags and organizing by relevancy. It also brings metadata along directly into the users campaigns. The unique structure of ContextMiner is due to its creators Information Science background. Information Scientists see the need to organize and catalog data where others do not. A terrific perspective on organizing web content is available on Archiving the Web.

Creation of ContextMiner
ContextMiner is the brainchild of Dr. Chirag Shah of the School of Communication & Information at Rutgers University. The project is open-source and still in its infancy. Users can get help via email directly from Dr. Shah. The purpose of ContextMiner is to add a relevant search process to social media in general. Users from any background can find uses for this system. Some especially targeted users are sports enthusiast, political enthusiast and academics, and librarians.

Campains
ContextMiner works through campaigns. Campaigns consists of search parameters and search locations. User can choose to search via flickr, YouTube, twitter. Users can also specify that campaign searches include the web (with viable url) and specific blog sites.

A campaign is begun by naming the campaign. Next, the user must select where the campaign will search and how many hits to record. (see image 1). Then the user will be able to access the campaign(s) via the campaign view page. (see image 2). This page shows how many hits the search had and where the hits are located. By clicking on a specific collection within a campaign users can see and tag the content collected.



The image 1 (left) is a screenshot of the ContextMiner page where user can select from where their campaign will gather and store content.

The image 2 (bottom/right) is a screenshot of the ContextMiner page that displays a campaign's results. From this page users can edit campaign parameters or view, listen, or read a campaigns findings.

**References**
Shah, C. (n.d.). Contextminer. Retrieved November 10, 2011, from ContextMiner: http://www.contextminer.org/about.php