Christopher Wallström demystifies metadata and taxonomies. In this presentation metadata is explained as well as why and how to use it in practice.

1. METADATA AND TAXONOMY
DEMYSTIFIED
Christopher Wallström
christopher.wallstrom@findwise.com

2. 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

3. A Song

4. 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

5. The Record
Alphabetically
Chronologically
By Color
By Composer (Writer)
Autobiographical (Hi-Fidelity)
Which order is correct?

6. Different Views of Information

7. Different Views of Information

8. Which representation is right?
Which way of represent the information is correct?
Both!
Depends on usage and application!

9. Taxonomy
• Hierarchical relations
• Tree structure
• Controlled Vocabulary
• A common language to communicate, translate
and tag

10. Why do we need metadata?
• Very complex information landscape

11. Why do we need metadata?
• We need pointers to the correct information

12. So how do we create these pointers?
• Content Analysis
Interviews with the customers
Explore current and proposed information systems
Look for structures and terms that can be used
Identify candidates for metadata
• Metadata and Taxonomy Workshops
Gather key resources at the customer
Through different workshop exercises help them identify key
metadata and taxonomy categories

13. So how do we create these pointers?
• Create a controlled vocabulary
Create an inventory of terms and categories
Add synonyms , translations and taxonomy information

14. So how do we create these pointers?
• Map metadata terms to information objects
Information objects are abstract building blocks of sites and
information systems, they are described by their metadata

15. So how do we create these pointers?
• Implement information objects as page templates
or content types
• Verify
• Iterate

16. Applications

17. Applications

18. Applications