I think that a starting point in discussing resource types is to
select an element set number. Perhaps 15 is workable for a pick
list. The goal should be to provide the most intutitive access by
searchers. Subtypes need to be derived from these. There will be
few "communities of expertise" that will use anything below the top
D.C. level elements. In my field, peer reviewed content metadata is
fairly well delineated (Medline/MeSH). We will develop our own
domain-specific scheme. The purpose of the DC will be to make
biomedical resources and resource types recognizable by global
search engines.
I would propose the following Resource Type List derived from the
minimalist set at the Berkeley site. This list is based on an examination
of compatibility of the list with the "Publication Types" defined in the
Medlars
record expanded for the "Resource Types" for the directory that we
maintain.
Brief Text
A work that is mostly textual in nature and involves less than
three minutes for the average user session.
Examples include summaries, abstracts, brief
descriptions, letters, correspondence, pamphlets, and email
messages,
Images
Examples: photographs, graphics, animations, images, and maps.
Sound
All sound types. Examples include speech, music, and ambient.
Video
All video transmissions, conferencing formats and video
clips.
Software
Binary executables and source code. For software that exists
only to create an interactive environment use Interactive
instead.
Data
Alphanumeric collections of data. Examples include spatial
data, charts, tables, bibliographic records, statistics, and
remotely sensed spectral data.
Interactive
A setting designed for interactive involvement with one or
more users. Examples: games, chat services, receive input
variables, virtual reality, web based threads, email lists.
In Depth Reviews
Books, articles, essays, theses, hypermedia learning
modules, and technical reports.
Directories
Topically categorized, hyperlinked lists that aid in
resource discovery. Full text of the web content is indexed
in the metadata description.
Homepages
Institutional, encylopedias, a group of related
papers, collective works, or personal
web sites that provide a metaview of content, services and
resources. Top-level page to some organization or person's
website.
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Dr.Gary Malet, Medical Informatics Fellow, Family Physician
Oregon Health Sciences University
3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon
[log in to unmask], (503)494-6734
Co Chair AMIA's Internet Working Group,
http://www-informatics.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/Amia/homepage.htm
MMATRIX-L Medical Internet Resource Development Mail List
http://cure.medinfo.org/lists/AMIA/mm-about.html
"MEDICAL MATRIX"- Hypertext Internet Clinical Medicine Resources
http://www.medmatrix.org
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