Increasingly, Information Retrieval systems, such as web search engines, are becoming the primary means by which one accesses information. Therefore, it is important to consider how the retrieval system impacts upon ones ability to access information. For instance, a search engine may rank particular sites above others consistently such that a long term bias towards or against  certain content or providers persists. Such a bias, may be  characteristic of other media providers, like newspapers or television channels, where an editorial decision results in the choices presented during search. One line of research is to be able characterize the bias of search engines so that one can see the implicit influence the search tool has over one’s searches.

Other areas where considering accessibility is now imperative is within E-Government. With US Legislation now requiring E-Government content be made accessible through search technology. Alternatively, within the Legal domain, it is important that an attorney provides their client with the best legal advice and this is often dependent upon the information the attorney can source through the search system. Understanding the limits in terms of access to the information enables the selection of the most appropriate search tool. This is particularly important in the Patent domain, where missing one document could result in a multimillion dollar lawsuit because of a Patent infringement. If the search tool limits what can be accessed within the collection then there is an increased likelihood that documents which are biased against can not be easily retrieved.

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