News Category: research

Search engines have changed the world. They put vast amounts of information at our fingertips. But search engines have their flaws, says iSchool Associate Professor Matthew Lease. Search results are often not as “smart” as we’d like them to be, lacking a true understanding of language and human logic. They can also replicate and deepen the biases embedded in our searches, rather than bringing us new information or insight.

Associate Professor Bo Xie is working on a project that will help older adults use the Internet to make informed choices about health and medicine.

Dr. Xie received a $426,127 grant from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging for the study, which is titled “Boosting Older Adults’ Cognition by Training Real-World eHealth Skills.”

“Older adults face a range of medical decisions,” Dr. Xie said. “The Internet has the potential to meet their needs for a diverse range of health information.”