Los bancos de imágenes en internet. Características, funciones y aplicaciones

Abstract

La investigación desarrollada para esta tesis doctoral titulada “Los bancos de imágenes en Internet. Características, funciones y aplicaciones” se centra en el estudio general de estos sitios web y su principal objetivo es definirlos y analizarlos con base en un modelo de análisis de creación propia de este investigador. Creemos que es una investigación muy pertinente ya que nos encontramos en un mundo en el que prima la imagen, las utilizamos a todas horas, en múltiples ámbitos y, por tanto, se hacen indispensables sitios webs a los que los usuarios puedan acceder, donde consigan buscar y encontrar imágenes digitales para diversos propósitos. Durante los últimos 15 años han ido apareciendo y se han ido desarrollando los bancos de imágenes en Internet (BDI). Aunque el número de bancos ha ido creciendo muy rápidamente, los estudios sobre ellos no lo han hecho en la misma medida. De hecho, aunque existen varios trabajos científicos sobre ellos muy interesantes, muchas de las publicaciones al respecto se quedan en la mera descripción de unos pocos bancos a modo de ejemplo, de forma que pretenden explicar así su modo de funcionamiento. En este estudio, sin embargo, se ha pretendido hacer un análisis riguroso de una muestra importante de bancos de imágenes, tanto a nivel cuantitativo como a nivel cualitativo, para extraer el mayor número posible de conclusiones respecto al objeto de estudio...The research carried-out for this doctoral thesis titled "Image banks on the Internet. Features, functions and applications" focuses on the general study of these websites aiming to define and analyse them, based on an analytical model which is newly proposed as part of the novelty of this research. It is believed that this is a very topical research due to currently images are used in many areas and, therefore, these websites are indispensable places, where users can search, find and access digital images for various purposes. Consequently Image Banks (IB) have been created and developing over the last 15 years. Although the number of banks has been growing very quickly, the research work focused on them has not developed to the same extent. In fact, although there are several very interesting scientific papers in the area, many of the publications available surface the mere description of a few IB cases where researchers just try to explain the way the IB work. In this study, however, a rigorous analysis of an important collection of IB has been attempted, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to extract as many lessons as possible about the object of study. This research has been underpinned on four theoretical bases. First, the Theory of Documentation, where the variables for the analysis related to images search and retrieval systems languages have been obtained from. Second, the Theory of Image, which has been used to define the various types of existing images as well as to define the scope of the analysis and to establish the different types of images to search through the IB. Third, the Digital Image, which has helped us to define the properties of any digital image and to define the existing formats of both computer files and licenses. Finally, the major paradigms of ICT and the Internet, which have helped to focus this research on the most interesting subject: the user and his web experience related to the design and quality of the IB. This doctoral dissertation attempts to achieve four main objectives: 1) to study in depth IB and their characteristics; 2) to develop a novel model of analysis, applicable to any IB; 3) to apply this model to IB; and 4) to propose a set of basic principles to be considered when designing and creating a new image bank or when updating an existing IB...