An introduction to Topic maps: Structure and relationships of information
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Transcript of An introduction to Topic maps: Structure and relationships of information
TOPIC MAPS *
Structure and relationships of information
* DISCLAIMER
We are new to topic maps, we're just finding our way
Where do ourinformation-structuring metaphors come from?
Taxonomies
A hierarchical system of classification developed by Carl von Linné (Linnaeus) for biological classification.
Originally set forth in hisSystema Naturae , 1735.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Linnaeus
Taxonomies
Each term in a taxonomy has one or more parent-child relationship often expressed in a tree structure or dendogram
Advantages:Excellent for one-to-one classification and filing of items into a system. Hierarchy of information and relationship is implicit. Disadvantages: Items can only be filed in one location. Therefore, whoever does the classification decides where something 'lives'
Folksonomies
Not a traditional data structuring method. First coined by Thomas Vander Wal (on the 24th of July 2004 to be precise). A folksonomy is a classification system based on collaborative user tagging. Advantages:Extensible and flexible. Allows multiple users to define their own relationship to things.
Disadvantages: No way of being clear what someone else's definition means. Needs a critical mass of interaction to be useful.
An example
Show me a picture of the Paris Hilton
A picture of Paris Hilton
Hmm, not what I was looking for
OK, I meant: show me a picture of the Paris Hilton Hotel
Finally! A picture of Paris Hilton(the hotel)
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=paris%20hilton%20hotel&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi
Taxonomies and folksonomies are bad at describing the type of 'thing'
Why? Because they cannot capture the relationships between 'things'
Faceted classification
Originally conceived by Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan in the 1930s. Facets can be thought of as multiple axes along which documents or information can be classified. Advantages:Flexible, allows information to be found through multiple routes.
Disadvantages: Can add extra complexity and visual noise, and still doesn't describe the relationship between 'things'.
Ranganthan's faceted classification model:
Personality – the primary subject of the document (the key facet)
Matter – the material or substance the document deals with
Energy – the processes or activities the document describes
Space – the locations described by the document
Time – the time period described by the document
http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/ranganathan_for_ias
The classification of a book on Norwegian rural architecture in the 17th century might look like this:
Personality – architecture
Matter – wood
Energy – design
Space – Norway
Time – 17th century
http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/ranganathan_for_ias
So where do Topic maps come in?
Time for a slightly confusing diagram
Topic maps
Topic maps are an ISO standard notation, created around 2000.
They are used to richly describe relationships between 'things' rather then between documents or pages.
http://www.ontopia.net/topicmaps/materials/tm-vs-thesauri.html
http://www.slideshare.net/hendrikthomas/hendrik-thomas-semantic-web-topic-maps-2009
http://www.slideshare.net/hendrikthomas/hendrik-thomas-semantic-web-topic-maps-2009
Topic maps
Advantages:Improve the findability of information, since they consistently describe the relationships between things, as well as the things themselves.
Disadvantages: Not widely used or understood. Large scale documentation is problematic
Topic maps support natural search queriese.g. "show me all articles about Paris Hilton, the celebrity, staying at Paris Hilton, the hotel"
Unfortunately, our document-centric structure doesn't support that query...
Google news search results:Paris Hilton staying at the Paris Hilton
Topic maps in use
The Norwegian Government website:http://www.regjeringen.no/en.html
Visit Norway:http://www.visitnorway.com/
Q: Why are Topic maps so popular in Norway?A: Graham Moore's (topic map guru) wife is Norwegian
References and further reading:
Introduction to Topic Maps– Hendrik Thomas, 2009http://www.slideshare.net/hendrikthomas/hendrik-thomas-semantic-web-topic-maps-2009
The TAO of Topic Maps - Finding the Way in the Age of Infoglut– Steve Pepper, 2002http://www.ontopia.net/topicmaps/materials/tao.html
Metadata? Thesauri? Taxonomies? Topic Maps!: Making sense of it all– Lars Marius Garshol, 2004http://www.ontopia.net/topicmaps/materials/tm-vs-thesauri.html
Ranganathan for IAs– Mike Steckel, 2002http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/ranganathan_for_ias
Thanks
[email protected]@LBi.com