Question

Q76

Can a Recommender System induce serendipitous encounters? Explain. [2 Marks]

Answer 1

Answer.

Yes, because in today's world recommenders are used along with various purposes, dealing with e-commerce and information filtering tools. The content based recommendations depends on the concept of similarity and purchases, visited or searched goods and all other items stored in repository. It is said that the user is interested in what is similar to what he or she has purchased, searched or visited. There are certain context when assumptions may go wrong when in the case of acquiring unsearched useful goods or information. This is known as serendipity. This is possible to stimulate and facilitate users serendipitous encounter to happen.

Reference:

https://www.cs.grinnell.edu/taxonomy/term/305

Iaquinta, L., Gemmis, M. De, Lops, P., Semeraro, G., & Molino, P. (n.d.). Can a Recommender System induce serendipitous encounters?, 229–247. Read sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 (read further optionally). Available online at http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/10158.pdf.