Metadata Semantic Web Solutions: Web 2.0 and beyond______________________________

Stephanie Beene, 10/14/2008

Metadata: What is it?

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.

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Semantic Web Solutions

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.

• three phases over the past 13 years in metadata development:o ~1995-1998: exploring and

defining metadata in its Internet roles, how it adapts to domain-specific (local) requirements.

o  ~~1998-2003: the Dublin Core became the international standard, domain-standards proliferate.

Semantic Web goals:

• Interoperability and Standardization.

• We're in the third phase of metadata development:o ~2003-present: theoretical

frameworks, grassroots tagging.

o Dilemmas: ever-increasing volume of digital information; complexities, high cost, slow creation of metadata.

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Library & Information Science Computer Science

The Semantic Web Conversation

"How can we describe information objects?"

"We want to capture data about digital

objects..."

"We want a variety of responses to user

queries"

"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 machine-

processable?"

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Semantic Web Solutions

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

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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________________________________

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=CKak5uDGuJYCFQOIFQod_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?

____________________________Sources

Lei Zeng, Marcia and Jian Qin (2008). Metadata. New York: Neal-Schumann Publishers, Inc.

Class readings & links you see on this presentation