Hi Melissa,



I am known to bang on about how important it is not just to have good data, but to expose it in a way that makes back end records available to front end digital products and services. :)



This is how the knowledge and expertise of expert museum staff can be converted into value for users in the most scalable and efficient way.

The data I am talking about may not be quite what you mean by metadata, but here is how we tackle scalable delivery using digital assets as data.





As you want an example, here is the output from our collections API for a guitar smashed up on stage by Pete Townshend.

This example uses object data and event data from separate backend systems.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/api/json/museumobject/O141374



This is a JSON delivery format great for web developers, retaining original SPECTRUM cataloguing format in the backend Collections Management System



The most basic (and automatic) digital product that is built on this is an object web page. We have 1,167,190 objects available as data like this and each has an automatically generated and updated page like this...

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O141374/guitar-les-paul/



So far, so good. This is a very efficient way to get widespread access to objects, if not especially earth-shattering these days. This data has been available since 2008 and pages from the Search the Collections service since 2009



HOWEVER, what you can also do is re-use the data to make other digital products to server more focussed user needs.



For example, here is a typical user story

"I love design and I want to explore the V&A on my day off with my friend, before I go, I'd like to be able to easily visually browse a guide of some sort, so I can get a feel for what rooms and objects are actually in the V&A and decide what to come and see."



We have the Explorer Map for this



The object data you have above is also used in this separate product. Here is the same guitar in the Theatre and performance galleries, where it is on display, showing the object and where it is in the building

http://www.vam.ac.uk/digital/map/#l=3&r=room106a&o=O141374



and here it is showing the full data



http://www.vam.ac.uk/digital/map/#l=3&r=room106a&o=O141374&d=1



You might recognise it... the clue is the ID number O141374



Now, the map also uses event data that is maintained by other expert staff in Visitor Services and Marketing.



Here is free theatre tour that you can also attend and that you can find while browsing the building using the Explorer Map:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/digital/map/#l=1&r=access_x5F_entrance_x5F_grand



This feature in the Explorer Map is created in a similar way using JSON data from the What's On database, which is turn coming from an internal event management database. This is what that looks like for all free tours and talks



http://www.vam.ac.uk/whatson/json/events/filtered/?type=free-talks-tours



I hope this is useful.

There is more in this presentation if you want it.

http://www.slideshare.net/AndrewLVandA/digital-asset-management-what-is-it-and-why-do-it-28668169



We have loads more stuff on the Digital Media blog too

e.g. http://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/digital-media/tablet-optimised-digital-map



Andrew  Lewis

Digital Content Delivery Manager



Digital Media Department

www.vam.ac.uk/digitalmedia



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  1. Good examples of metadata alongside digitised content? (20)

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  3. Website redevelopment - what CMS



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Date:    Thu, 19 Nov 2015 14:23:32 +0000

From:    Melissa Terras <[log in to unmask]>

Subject: Good examples of metadata alongside digitised content?



Hi folks,



I'm teaching metadata in class tomorrow, and I find myself scrabbling

(again) to find any examples of full metadata in the cultural and heritage

sector, using VRA or IPTC or even Dublin Core. What I'd really like is a

site that had various examples of a digitised image of something, plus all

the metadata that goes alongside that item (this information is generally

seldom public facing). I'm wondering why such a site doesnt exist, and what

it would take to put it together... but in the meantime, would anyone care

to share with me one good example of an image plus ALL of its metadata that

you have? We really need examples of these to show students and to help

teach them about the best practice, the complexities, and what people are

actually doing in the sector...



Any help gratefully received, and if its not in time for tomorrow, no

matter! I can keep examples for class next term!



best



Melissa



--

_______________________________________________

Melissa M. Terras MA MSc DPhil CLTHE

Professor of Digital Humanities

Vice Dean of Research, UCL Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Director, UCL Centre for Digital Humanities

Department of Information Studies

Foster Court

University College London

Gower Street

WC1E 6BT

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