Metadata
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Semantic Web Solutions: Web 2.0 and beyond
Stephanie Beene, 10/14/2008
Metadata: What is it?
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several definitions, depending on the field...
• " data about data" is the most generic definition.
• "structured information that describes, explains, locates, or otherwise makes
it easier to retrieve, use, or manage an information resource" (NISO, 2004) .
• "data associated with either an information system or an information object
for purposes of description, administration, legal requirements, technical
functionality, use and usage, and preservation" (DCMI Glossary, 2005).
• In the last decade metadata standards & guidelines skyrocketed with the
proliferation of digital information.
• As these standards & guidelines were created with local needs in mind,
semantic silos were created.
Semantic Web Solutions
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The Problem:
• Since the first Dublin Core Workshop
in 1995, metadata has expanded well
beyond just describing documents.
o become a symbol for digital
information organization and
management.
Semantic Web goals:
• Interoperability and
Standardization.
• We're in the third phase of
metadata development:
o ~2003-present: theoretical
frameworks, grassroots
• three phases over the past 13 years in
tagging.
metadata development:
o Dilemmas: ever-increasing
o ~1995-1998: exploring and
volume of digital information;
defining metadata in its Internet
complexities, high cost, slow
roles, how it adapts to domaincreation of metadata.
specific (local) requirements.
o ~~1998-2003: the Dublin Core
became the international standard,
domain-standards proliferate.
The Semantic Web Conversation
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Library & Information Science
"How can we describe
information objects?"
"We want a variety of
responses to user
queries"
"We want to capture
data about digital
objects..."
Computer Science
"How can we build systems
to respond better/more
quickly to user requests?"
"How can we encode data in
executable format into Web
architecture?"
"How can metadata
become machineprocessable?"
Semantic Web Solutions
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Outcomes to the Conversation:
• Ongoing process to unify the two paradigms of description &
processability/executability.
• XML/RDF-based languages:
o combine semantic structures with computational syntax
o provide mechanisms for expressing relationships between classes of data
that is computer/machine-processable.
o example: OWL ( Web Ontology Language):
•
Application Profiles (DCMI):
o as a way to declare which elements from which namespaces are used in a
particular application or project.
o schemas of data elements optimized for a specific local application
• Infrastructure streamlining (making all XML-compatible):
•
XML/RDF as the data-binding language
The Metadata Jungle!
http://homepages.cwi.nl/~troncy/Talks/WWW08/metadata_jungle.jpg
Attempts to tame the jungle...
http://instructionaldesign.com.au/Academic/TechnicalTheme1_files/swtechnologies.jpg
Semantic Web Solutions
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Some Examples:
• Archives Initiatives:
•
•
OAI Metadata Harvester: http://uilib-oai.sourceforge.net/
California Digital Library OAI: http://cdlib-s10.cdlib.org/inside/projects/harvesting/
• Business Initiatives:
•
•
SAS (formerly Statistical Analysis Software, now just SAS):
http://www.sas.com/technologies/dw/connectivity/index.html?gclid=CKak5uDGuJY
CFQOIFQod_kVoLg
Mozenda (formerly Infosquire):
http://www.infosquire.com/?gclid=CN_ilYfGuJYCFQKaFQodIBW1Kw
• Library Initiatives:
•
•
•
•
Dublin Core Solutions: http://dublincore.org/tools/index.shtml
Siderean Software (Seamark): http://www.siderean.com/
Sirsi Dynix Enterprise Solutions:
http://www.sirsidynix.com/Solutions/Products/portalsearch.php
Millennium Triple I: http://www.iii.com/
questions?
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Sources
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Lei Zeng, Marcia and Jian Qin (2008). Metadata. New
York: Neal-Schumann Publishers, Inc.
Class readings & links you see on this presentation