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An introduction to Topic maps: Structure and relationships of information
- 1. TOPIC MAPS * Structure and relationships of information
- 2. * DISCLAIMER We are new to topic maps, we're just finding our way
- 3. Where do our information-structuring metaphors come from?
- 4. Taxonomies A hierarchical system of classification developed by Carl von Linné (Linnaeus) for biological classification. Originally set forth in his Systema Naturae , 1735. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Linnaeus
- 5. 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'
- 6. 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.
- 7. An example Show me a picture of the Paris Hilton
- 8. A picture of Paris Hilton
- 9. Hmm, not what I was looking for OK, I meant: show me a picture of the Paris Hilton Hotel
- 10. 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
- 11. Taxonomies and folksonomies are bad at describing the type of 'thing' Why? Because they cannot capture the relationships between 'things'
- 12. 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'.
- 13. 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
- 14. 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
- 15. So where do Topic maps come in? Time for a slightly confusing diagram
- 16. 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
- 19. 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
- 20. Topic maps support natural search queries e.g. "show me all articles about Paris Hilton, the celebrity, staying at Paris Hilton, the hotel"
- 21. Unfortunately, our document-centric structure doesn't support that query... Google news search results: Paris Hilton staying at the Paris Hilton
- 22. 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
- 23. References and further reading: Introduction to Topic Maps – Hendrik Thomas, 2009 http://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, 2002 http://www.ontopia.net/topicmaps/materials/tao.html Metadata? Thesauri? Taxonomies? Topic Maps!: Making sense of it all – Lars Marius Garshol, 2004 http://www.ontopia.net/topicmaps/materials/tm-vs-thesauri.html Ranganathan for IAs – Mike Steckel, 2002 http://www.boxesandarrows.com/view/ranganathan_for_ias