Folksonomies

But First:Metadata

What is it?

Metadata

It is data about data.

It is information about information.

Metadata:

• Structured information about documents, books, articles, photographs, web pages, etc.

• This data is designed for specific functions usually to facilitate some organization and access of information.

Traditional Metadata

• Dewey Decimal • Library of Congress

Traditional metadata is high quality but costly and it

doesn’t scale well.

Author Created Metadata

For example I might create an xml document that contains data about my CD collection:<mycds>

<cd><artist>Bob Dylan</artist><title>Blonde on Blonde</title>

</cd><cd>

<artist>Funkadelic</artist><title>Maggot Brain</title>

</cd></mycds>

Author Created Metadata

• Dublin Core• XML• RDF

Has better scalability but suffers from the same problems

As traditional metadata: users are disconnected from the

process.

User Created Metadata(Folksonomies)

• Del.icio.us

Folksonomies

This term is attributed to Information Architect Thomas Vander Wal. It is the combination of two words.

Folk:Of, occurring in, or originating among the common people: folk culture.

Taxonomy: A division into ordered groups or categories.

Weaknesses

Ambiguity: • There is no synonym control so multiple words may be used to describe the same thing.• The same word may be used for multiple meanings.

For instance the ant maybe used to describe:The insect.Actor Network Theory in the domain of sociology.A java programming language tool.

Strengths

BrowsingDel.icio.us is an exploratory tool that supports browsing.

User centeredDirectly reflects the vocabulary of its users.

Desire linesSupports the creation of emergent “paths”.

NamespaceHas a flat name space/non-hierarchal categorization.

Examples (from Clay Shirky)

Dewey, 200: Religion210 Natural theology220 Bible230 Christian theology240 Christian moral & devotional theology250 Christian orders & local church260 Christian social theology270 Christian church history280 Christian sects & denominations290 Other religions

Dewey Decimal Religions of the World

Library of Congress World History

D: History (general)DA: Great BritainDB: AustriaDC: FranceDD: GermanyDE: MediterraneanDF: GreeceDG: ItalyDH: Low CountriesDJ: Netherlands

DK: Former Soviet UnionDL: ScandinaviaDP: Iberian PeninsulaDQ: SwitzerlandDR: Balkan PeninsulaDS: AsiaDT: AfricaDU: OceaniaDX: Gypsies

What is being optimized?

When do traditional cataloging systems work well?

Domain to be Organized• Small corpus• Formal categories• Stable entities• Restricted entities• Clear edges

Participants• Expert catalogers• Authoritative judgment• Coordinated users• Expert users

When do traditional cataloging systems not work well?

Domain to be Organized• Large corpus• No formal categories• Unstable entities• Unrestricted entities• No clear edges

Participants• Uncoordinated users• Amateur users• Naïve catalogers• No Authority