Recommender systems |
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Concepts |
Methods and challenges |
Implementations |
Research |
A Content Discovery Platform is an implemented software recommendation platform which uses recommender system tools. It utilizes user meta-data in order to discover and recommend appropriate content, whilst reducing ongoing maintenance and development costs. A Content Discovery Platform delivers personalized content to websites, mobile devices and set-top boxes. A large range of content discovery platforms currently exist for various forms of content ranging from news articles and academic journal articles [1] to television.[2] As operators compete to be the gateway to home entertainment, personalized television is a key service differentiator. Academic content discovery has recently become another area of interest, with several companies, such as Sparrho,[3] being established to help academic researchers keep up to date with relevant academic content and serendipitously discover new content.[4]
Methodology
In to provide and recommend content, a search algorithm is used within a Content Discovery Platform to provide keyword related search results. User personalization and recommendation are tools that are used in the determination of appropriate content. Recommendations are either based on a single article or show, a particular academic field or genre of TV, or a full user profile. Bespoke analysis can also be undertaken to understand specific requirements relating to user behaviour and activity.
A variety of algorithms can be used:
- Collaborative filtering of different users’ behaviour, preferences, and ratings
- Automatic content analysis and extraction of common patterns
- Social recommendations based on personal choices from other people
Evolving landscape
As the connected television landscape continues to evolve, search & recommendation are seen as having even more pivotal role in the discovery of content.[5] With broadband connected devices, consumers are projected to have access to content from linear broadcast sources as well as internet television. Therefore there is a risk that the market could become fragmented, leaving it to the viewer to visit various locations and find what they want to watch in a way that is time-consuming and complicated for them. By using a search and recommendation engine, viewers are provided with a central ‘portal’ from which to discover content from a number of sources in just one location.