taxonomy and metadata demystified

METADATA AND TAXONOMY DEMYSTIFIED

Christopher Wallström

christopher.wallstrom@findwise.com

What is metadata?

Metadata are data about data

“We define metadata as the collection of structured information about a document or a piece of content” Patrick

Lambe, Organizing Knowledge

A Song

Metadata about the song

Artist: Depeche Mode

Release date: 7 September 1981

Label: Mute

Writer: Vince Clarke

Format: 7” Single, 12” Single, CD Single

Length: 3:41

Appears on:

Speak and Spell, The Singles 81->85, 101, The best of Depeche Mode

The Record

Alphabetically

Chronologically

By Color

By Composer (Writer)

Autobiographical (Hi-Fidelity)

Which order is correct?

Different Views of Information

Different Views of Information

Which representation is right?

Which way of represent the information is correct?

Both!

Depends on usage and application!

Taxonomy

•Hierarchical relations

•Tree structure

•Controlled Vocabulary

•A common language to communicate, translate and tag

Why do we need metadata?

•Very complex information landscape

Why do we need metadata?

•We need pointers to the correct information

So how do we create these pointers?

•Content AnalysisInterviews with the customersExplore current and proposed information systemsLook for structures and terms that can be usedIdentify candidates for metadata

•Metadata and Taxonomy WorkshopsGather key resources at the customerThrough different workshop exercises help them identify key metadata and taxonomy categories

So how do we create these pointers?

•Create a controlled vocabularyCreate an inventory of terms and categoriesAdd synonyms , translations and taxonomy information

So how do we create these pointers?

•Map metadata terms to information objectsInformation objects are abstract building blocks of sites and information systems, they are described by their metadata

So how do we create these pointers?

• Implement information objects as page templates or content types

•Verify

• Iterate

Applications

Applications

Applications