© 2010 Donna Slawsky Taxonomies and DAM Digital Asset Managers Meetup June 29, 2010

© 2010 Donna Slawsky

Taxonomies and DAM

Digital Asset Managers Meetup

June 29, 2010


Introduction

Donna Slawsky MLIS, Pratt Institute Metadata and Taxonomy consultant Instructor, DAM for Columbia University

School of Continuing Ed Ontologist, Time Inc. Adjunct Librarian, Baruch College


Questions

Who uses a taxonomy of some form in your DAM? For browsing assets? For keywording assets?

Is someone on staff managing a taxonomy? Do you understand

what a taxonomy is? how taxonomies are used? how taxonomies assist in asset retrieval?


Definition

A controlled vocabulary is a list of words used to tag content and then to retrieve that content through either navigation or search.


Why Use Controlled Vocabularies (CVs)? Offers consistency in language used to describe

content Provides agreement in (semantic) meaning of terms

used Facilitates retrieval Acts as an intermediary between the input of the user

and a database of terms by interpreting the meaning of the words (computers don’t understand word meanings…yet).

Enables search input to better represent the original intention of the use

Provides consistent and clear hierarchies for navigation


What is this?


And this?


How do CVs work? Define the scope or meaning of terms Use the equivalence relationship to link

synonymous or equivalent terms children = kids pants = slacks bags = handbags

Distinguish between homographs:Example: Mercury (planet) Mercury (chemical) Mercury (mythology) Mercury (automobile)


Types of CVs

List Synonym ring Authority file Taxonomy Thesaurus

Source: NISO


Types and Complexity of CVs

Source: NISO


List Limited set of terms arranged

alphabetically or other logical way. Used only if there are a limited number of possibilities.

Example of list from New York Public Library Media Center http://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/media-center


Synonym Ring Only used for retrieval, not for indexing of

content items. Ensures that a concept that can be

described by a number of terms retrieves the content items of interest.

The terms are considered equivalent for the purpose of retrieval.

Bill Clinton = William Jefferson Clinton = President Clinton


Authority File

One of the equivalent terms is the Preferred Term (PT) and others are variations Preferred term - term out of all equivalent

terms that will be used to represent a concept Important for consistent tagging Types of authority files include place names,

person names, organization namesBatman (Preferred Term)

Batman USE FOR: Dark Knight, Caped Crusader

Caped Crusader: USE Batman

Dark Knight: USE Batman


Taxonomy

A CV consisting of preferred terms that are arranged hierarchically.

Hierarchical relationships: Broad Terms, Narrow Terms

NTs should be “Type of” or “Part of”


Why Use Taxonomies?

Classifies and categorizes information Classifies and categorizes information (assets in DAM)(assets in DAM)

Enhances retrieval Provides a uniform language for Provides a uniform language for

subjects, asset types, organization subjects, asset types, organization depts., formats, etc.depts., formats, etc.


Taxonomy: Hierarchy of Broad and Narrow Terms

Type of:Vegetables

Asparagus

Brussels Sprouts

Lettuce

Peas

Part of: Bicycle

Bicycle Seat

Handlebars

Pedal

Tire


Taxonomy: Broad, Narrow Relationships in a Hierarchy

Source: NISO Standard


Thesaurus

The most complex and detailed CV showing PT (Preferred Term), BT (Broad Term), NT (Narrow Term), RT (Related Terms), UF (Use For), Use, and Scope (term definition) giving a robust understanding of the language used for a subject domain.

See example: USDA Agriculture thesaurus at http://agclass.nal.usda.gov/dne/search.shtml


Taxonomy Examples

Food Taxonomy in ExcelEquivalent terms or synonymsTagging on the ‘leaf’Use of ‘More’ or ‘Other’

Poly-hierarchical taxonomiesOne term, multiple parent terms


The Concept of Facets Facets are attributes of a content item Especially useful for browsing

Example: for a pair of pants: fabric color size brand price


Faceted Taxonomy for Pants

Color

red

green

blue

orange

Fabric

wool

leather

silk

cotton

Brand

Gap

Lee

Marc Jacobs

Size

2

4

6

8

10For more information see sources at end of presentation


Applications for DAM: Class Assignment Does the DAM system contain a tool out Does the DAM system contain a tool out

of the box to create and maintain of the box to create and maintain taxonomies?taxonomies? 9 out of the 13 DAM systems studied 9 out of the 13 DAM systems studied

have taxonomy management capabilitieshave taxonomy management capabilities All 9 enable use of taxonomies in the All 9 enable use of taxonomies in the

user interfaceuser interface One product of the 9 doesn’t enable One product of the 9 doesn’t enable

synonym managementsynonym management


How are taxonomies used to How are taxonomies used to enhance the end-user experience?enhance the end-user experience?

Browse assets Browse assets Narrow down search results Narrow down search results Type aheadType ahead Examples:Examples:

Asset BankAsset Bank Media BeaconMedia Beacon NuxeoNuxeo Canto CumulusCanto Cumulus ADAMADAM


Taxonomy example: animalsTaxonomy example: animals

Animals Animals (level 1)(level 1)AmphibiansAmphibians (level 2) (level 2)

FrogsFrogs (level 3) (level 3)NewtsNewtsToadsToads

BirdsBirdsBirds of PreyBirds of PreyWading BirdsWading Birds

InsectsInsectsBeesBeesBeetlesBeetlesFliesFlies

MammalsMammalsCatsCatsCattleCattleDeerDeerDogsDogs


Asset Bank: multi-level taxonomy browseAsset Bank: multi-level taxonomy browse

© Bright Interactive 2004-2009


Asset Bank: multi-level taxonomy browseAsset Bank: multi-level taxonomy browseAnimals (top level)

Amphibians

Birds

Insects

Mammals

Primates

Reptiles

Rodents

Sea Life




Animals

Mammals

CatsCattleDeerDogsHorsesPigs





Animals

Mammals

Cats

Wild


Asset Bank: image detail



Asset Bank: keyword browse



Asset Bank: browse categoriesAsset Bank: browse categories



Media Beacon: browseMedia Beacon: browse

Copyright © 2010, MediaBeacon, Inc Source: Media Beacon http://videos.mediabeacon.com/Taxonomies-Episode1.mov


Media Beacon: narrow down Media Beacon: narrow down search resultssearch results

Copyright © 2010, MediaBeacon, Inc


Canto Cumulus: multi-level browseCanto Cumulus: multi-level browse

Copyright © 2010 Canto, Inc.


Canto Cumulus: manage taxonomyCanto Cumulus: manage taxonomy


Customized two-level browse

© www.adamsoftware.net


ADAM: multi-level taxonomy browseADAM: multi-level taxonomy browse



ADAM: select classification for asset editADAM: select classification for asset edit



Type Ahead

Controlled vocabulary terms


Tips and take-aways User testing is highly recommended for the

search user interface Ask users about search and browse

experiences they like to use on the web Consult with SMEs for vocabularies Keywords and subject taxonomies are usually

two different CV’s Don’t re-invent the wheel to create subject

taxonomies. Many are available free or through a licensing arrangement. See http://www.taxonomywarehouse.com

Authority lists are available through the Library of Congress http://authorities.loc.gov/


Sources for more information Taxonomy Warehouse http://www.taxonomywarehouse.com Live version of Asset Bank from British Geological Survey:

http://geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewHome Live demo Canto Cumulus http://www.canto.com/en/docs/flash/web_client_tour/frames.html Media Beacon taxonomies in DAM video http://videos.mediabeacon.com/Taxonomies-

Episode1.mov Blog post on integrating folksonomy tagging with controlled vocabularies

http://www.aiimcommunities.org/e20/blog/organizing-chaos-tag-it by Bert Sandie “Designing for Faceted Search” by Stephanie Lemieux

http://www.earley.com/knowledge/articles/designing-faceted-search Faceted Browse DAM Product from Endeca: http://www.endeca.com/solutions-media-

publishing-digital-asset-navigation.htm Building a keyword library for description of visual assets: Thesaurus basics

http://www.palgrave-journals.com/dam/journal/v3/n3/full/3650074a.html by Donna Slawsky Syllabus for DAM course at Columbia University

https://courseworks.columbia.edu/public/IDRMK4340_001_2010_1 National Information Standards Organization. “Guidelines for the Construction, Format,

and Management of Monolingual Controlled Vocabulary.” ANSI/NISO Z39.19-2005. NISO Press. July 25, 2005. http://www.niso.org/kst/reports/standards?step=2&gid=None&project_key%3Austring%3Aiso-8859-1=7cc9b583cb5a62e8c15d3099e0bb46bbae9cf38a


Contact Info

[email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn Question for you:

Looking for DAM managers willing to be interviewed by a student and offer a tour of your DAM system for a midterm paper in the Fall.

Documents

© 2010 Donna Slawsky Taxonomies and DAM Digital Asset Managers Meetup June 29, 2010