Genomics & Informatics (Oct 2024)

Lightweight technology stacks for assistive linked annotations

  • Nishad Thalhath

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s44342-024-00021-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract This report presents the findings of a project from the 8th Biomedical Linked Annotation Hackathon (BLAH) to explore lightweight technology stacks to enhance assistive linked annotations. Using modern JavaScript frameworks and edge functions, in-browser Named Entity Recognition (NER), serverless embedding and vector search within web interfaces, and efficient serverless full-text search were implemented. Through this experimental approach, a proof of concept to demonstrate the feasibility and performance of these technologies was demonstrated. The results show that lightweight stacks can significantly improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of annotation tools and provide a local-first, privacy-oriented, and secure alternative to traditional server-based solutions in various use cases. This work emphasizes the potential of developing annotation interfaces that are more responsive, scalable, and user-friendly, which would benefit bioinformatics researchers, practitioners, and software developers.

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