Hi Phil,
I agree that an either/or approach would miss the point.
Decent metadata is essential for search and for information retrieval.
Where web 2 or social platforms/networks come in handy is that they
facilitate a process of *discovery*. That implies an element of
chance and unpredictability but it also can facilitate the weeding out
of less relevant information by putting each piece of information
within the context of 'neighbouring' resources in a way that is
determined by inferences drawn from aggregrate social data. This, I
think, is what is unprecedented. Where metadata represents the state
of human knowledge at the time it was catalogued, or more correctly,
the knowledge of the cataloguer, social data puts this in an
ever-changing context that changes depending on the current state of
the art.
Both the metadata and social aspects are indespensible.
David.
2008/5/2 Phil Cross <[log in to unmask]>:
> (I love these Friday afternoon discussions!)
>
>
> I still think that decent metadata is of high value for information
> retrieval and has its place alongside other techniques such as social
> networking. We're also looking at what can be done with text mining of full
> text documents in the Intute Repository Search project with NaCTeM, for
> alternative means of retrieval, so I always feel it's a mistake if
> discussions end up implying an either/or approach!
>
> Phil
--
David Kane
Systems Librarian
Waterford Institute of Technology
http://library.wit.ie/
T: ++353.51302838
M: ++353.876693212
|