INFORMATION RETRIEVAL—THE ECONOMIC ASPECT

The objectives and methods of an information retrieval system determine its input and output costs and the relation between them. The present trend seems to be towards increased sophistication (and cost) of input. ‘Retrieval efficiency’ can be measured, but the true ‘worth’ of a system depends not only on retrieval cost, but also on the value to the user of what is retrieved. Future changes—with computers being used more, and perhaps accepting ‘syntax’ as well as ‘vocabulary’—will substantially change the economic picture.