The document explores the distinctions between open and closed systems, highlighting the user contributions and modifications in open systems like WordPress, versus the limitations in closed systems such as proprietary software. It also discusses concepts like open source software, APIs, and metadata, underscoring their roles in facilitating communication and categorization of web content. Additionally, it raises questions about the ownership of information, expertise, and the implications of user-generated content in the digital age.

1. Here comes who?
 Introduction
 Closed systems vs. open systems
 Opensource vs. community sourced
 APIs, RSS, crosswalking
 How all of that stuff works
 Questions and wrap-up
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

2. Find me at robinfay.net, facebook,
twitter, linkedin, youtube, blogger, etc.
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, Metadata 101, robinfay.net

3. Here comes who?
 Open systems are systems which allow users to
contribute, manipulate, edit, use, reuse, mashup,
and in some way actually create or alter content
and/or the actual programming of the system
 While the coding language may be proprietory
(FBML is Facebook specific markup language) the
actual software encourages user contributions
 Examples of open systems include Wordpress and
Unix; to a lesser extent Facebook.
 If you can mod (modify it) the software, it is
probably an open system.
 Collaboration!
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

4. Here comes who?
 Closed systems are systems which allow users to use
content as is, with minimal to modification to the actual
system or program. Users may email content, but the
amount of what can be done is very small.
 Content can sometimes be created but under very
tight restrictions and generally does not actually alter
the system or program or create content in a public
space.
 Examples of closed systems include many library
catalog softwares, email software such as listservs,
Microsoft Office, web browsers, etc.
 Many pay to play, proprietary software are closed
systems.
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

5. Here comes who?
 Unfortunately, many systems are a mix of closed and
open. You can often do some creation/alteration but you
can’t actually change the program
 For example> Add, edit, delete entries in Wikipedia,
but you are not actually altering the software, just the
website
 However, if you install the Opensource software
MediaWiki (used by Wikipedia) then you can mod the
system
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia,, robinfay.net

6.  Opensource is software that is
released and licensed to the
public for use and modification.
It may be developed by one
developer, a team, or a
community. Modifications may
be supported. It may or may
not be open system.
 Community source is software
that is developed by a
community or group. Community
source does not necessarily
mean opensource.
 ...but in order for all of the
things to work and talk to each
other and be open....
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia,, robinfay.net

7. APIs are programming interfaces
which facilitate communication
between both open and closed
systems
Metadata is the underlying structure of information on the web.
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

8. Here comes who?
 APIs are the pieces of programming
allowing one software to talk to one
another in ways that are
understandable (translated). RSS
feeds are created from APIs.
 Metadata is information which relates
description, copyright, format, and
more.
 While programming languages are
the engines which run the web and the
software we use, metadata is akin to
street signs or maps – communicating
to people, software, and other
computer languages.
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

9. Web designers create metadata to
describe the website and its content.
Metadata 101
Metadata for a website is either created by the user when building the website or hand-
coded into the HTML. Some search engines use these keywords to varying degrees.
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

10. You create metadata every time you
edit a Word document.
Descriptive
metadata
Administrative &
Structural
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

11. ... Or upload to Flickr or tag a friend
on facebook.
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

12. Here comes who?
 All of the metadata we (the world) creates is mined in
some form or another. Search engines, document
processing software, library catalogs, websites,
digital portals, even our desktop computer’s indexing
is mining our information
 The Web provides almost endless possibilities to
create and share resources and digital objects.
 We are now all authors, artists, photographers,
archivists in the world stage....
 Sounds great, but....
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net

13. Here comes who?
 Many collaborative websites (social networking) such
as Wikipedia rely on the collective expertise of the
group -- the “true” or accurate information will rise to
the top. Untrue or irrelevant information will either sink
to the bottom (fewer hits, bad reviews, marked for
review, etc.) or will be revised by more expert
opinions.
 For the most part, this works fairly well; however, there
are drawbacks and quality control is an ongoing issue.
 Accuracy and relevance are too big issues with user
generated content.
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, Metadata 101, robinfay.net

14. Here comes who?
 Thoughts
 Who owns information?
 In the past, priest and experts controlled information. Now content
is created and distributed by users – all of us. What is expertise?
Who controls it?
 How does copyright fit into this way of creating the human
experience? What about mashups? When is something new?
 Who controls information? Who controls our identity? If we
chose not participate, will others create an identity for you?
Robin Fay, Univ. of Georgia, robinfay.net