Information Architects codify information’s purpose and context – that is vital for effective use and management. This talk summarizes our approach to understanding dynamic, multi-dimensional information models and the practical tools that help us create them. Acquisition of heterogeneous content and data sets is growing exponentially; in many cases outstripping an organization’s ability to digest it, share it, and apply it. IAs are the ones to bring structure to all types of data, as we creatively balance descriptive integrity, simplicity, and agreement/disagreement. IAs need to be actively involved defining the logic underpinning information, to help link data externally with the semantic web. Technology tools are often sold as “magic” – claiming algorithms will automagically catalog information and surface meaning. Or content owners assume anyone (in the organization or the public) can easily apply structure to information.The skills that IAs use to help people understand content and data also help computers make connections between the data as well. We encourage IAs to commit to models, semantic patterns and metadata. In our “Modern IA Manifesto,” we encourage you to grasp the key techniques and tools in the IA’s arsenal to provide more sustainable structure and thus provide more flexibility to information.

1. Duane
Degler
@ddegler
duane@designforcontext.com
Dalia
R.
Levine
@daliawithnoh
daliawithnoh@gmail.com
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
IA
Summit
25
April
2015
designforcontext.com/publicaDons

2. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
How
do
we
shorten
the
on-­‐ramp
?

3. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
About
it:
Author
Dates
Format
.
.
.
About
the
world
About
its
rela;onships
to
other
informa;on

4. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
“About-­‐ness”
is
more
than
a
pile
of
keywords
Subject
(a
noun)
Object
(a
noun)
Predicate
(a
verb)
“
Think
about
structure
in
a
more
disciplined
way.
”
Jorge
Arango,
IA
Summit
keynote,
2015

5. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Business
ontology
Person
ontology
EducaFon
ontology
More
disciplined
structures
Person
Organiza;on
Post-­‐Grad
Degree
University
Qualifica;on
Line
of
business
Business
area
Products
Hobbies
Manager
Works
as
Has
job
role
Has
degree
Confers
Controls
Operates
in
Knows
Makes
Valid
type
of
Prac;ces
Requires

6. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Framing
• The
web
of
content,
and
data,
conDnues
to
grow
rapidly
• Search
engines
are
no
longer
sufficient
• Algorithms
alone
are
not
the
answer

7. Structure
and
Metadata:
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the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Human
interpreta;on
<
>
machine
interpreta;on

8. Structure
and
Metadata:
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to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
It’s
“automagic”
.
.
.
?
• Machine-­‐enhancement
• Text
mining,
concept
extracDon,
automated
semanDc
enrichment
• Metadata
and
linked
data
–
baked
in
to
our
tools
• VisualizaDon
• More
possible
than
ever
to
do
useful
things

9. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Linked
Data
is
a
“Next
Gen”
data
standard
card
catalog
• LCSH
• Dewey
Decimal
Collections
RDb
RDb
• MARC,
CIMI
• RDA,
Z39.50
XML
• Schemas
(e.g.,
LIDO,
Dublin
Core,
EAD)
RDF
• Ontologies
(e.g.,
CIDOC,
BIBFRAME)
OrganizaFon
Structure,
math
Independence
Expressiveness

10. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Informa(on Architects not only need
to use emerging data models, tools,
and technologies.
We need to own their effec.ve use
to increase the value of informa(on
in our care.

11. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
IA
MANIFESTO
Build
on
what
exists

12. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Standing
on
the
shoulders
of
others
• Don’t
start
from
scratch
• Explore
• Standards
exist
• Domain-­‐specific
structures
and
terms
exist
• Examples
and
model
pa]erns
exist

13. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Linked
open
vocabularies
Open
Knowledge
FoundaDon
lov.okfn.org

14. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Different
types
of
ontologies
Upper-­‐level
Common,
available
vocabularies
General
Domain
Local
Bridging
ontologies
Bridging
ontologies
Bridging
ontologies
Local
vocabularies

15. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Common
language
and
structure
brings
added
value
If
you
invent
your
own
ontologies
and
vocabularies
–
SHARE
THEM
Local
ontologies
Local
vocabularies

16. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Increase
the
value
of
informa;on
• Build
on
what
exists
IA
MANIFESTO

17. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
“About-­‐ness”
is
more
than
a
pile
of
keywords
Subject
(a
noun)
Object
(a
noun)
Predicate
(a
verb)

18. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
“Springfield”
in
GeoNames
You
get
more
than
lat:long.
You
get
data
about
a
place.
geonames.org

19. Structure
and
Metadata:
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to
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Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Bal;more
Rembrandt
Peale
R.
Peale
Museum
Has
museum
Founded
by
Displays
Roman
Daughter
Smithsonian
Displays
D.C.
Has
museum
1814
Bakle
Flag
Displayed
Ft.
McHenry
Flew
Has
site
Painted
Rubens
P.
w/Geranium
Displays
NGA
Has
museum

20. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Bal;more
R.
Peale
Museum
Has
museum
Ar;llery
memorabilia
Displayed
Pakerson
Park
Has
site
Site
of
Volunteer
Arch.
Dig
Bal;more
Heritage
Organizes
Has
event
April
25th
On
date
Find

21. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Business
ontology
Person
ontology
EducaFon
ontology
More
disciplined
structures
Person
Organiza;on
Post-­‐Grad
Degree
University
Qualifica;on
Line
of
business
Business
area
Products
Hobbies
Manager
Works
as
Has
job
role
Has
degree
Confers
Controls
Operates
in
Knows
Makes
Valid
type
of
Prac;ces
Requires

22. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Encourage
understanding
and
knowledge-­‐building
• Build
on
what
exists
• Increase
the
value
of
informaDon
IA
MANIFESTO

23. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Knowledge-­‐building
• Interconnected
informaDon
• ConnecDng
disparate
concepts
and
re-­‐forming
them
in
new
ways
• Insights
emerge
over
Dme
–
longitudinal

24. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Domain-­‐specific:
Bri;sh
Museum
Biographic
Bibliographic
Produc;on
Title
Subject
Collec;on
&
Rights
Inscrip;on
Material
Event
Acquisi;on
Dimension
Visual
Representa;on
Modifica;on
Object
CIDOC-­‐CRM
ontology

25. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
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to
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Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Understanding
• Foster
new
insights
• Synthesize
informaDon
• Surface
pa]erns
• Clear
idenDty
of
a
thing
allows
relaDonships
to
be
drawn
from
mulDple
perspecDves
• Shared
understanding
• World
view

26. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Respond
to
context
• Build
on
what
exists
• Increase
the
value
of
informaDon
• Encourage
understanding
and
knowledge-­‐building
IA
MANIFESTO

27. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Relevance
is
informed
by
the
user’s
situaFon
and
intenFons
I
am…
• In
a
place
• Focused
on
a
Dme
period
• With
certain
people
• Among
devices
• Engaged
in
events
• Responding
to
expectaDons
• Bound
by
policies
/
rules
I
need…
now!
I’m
planning
for…
Dynamic
IA:
Flexible
Design
for
Linked
[Open]
Data
and
Emerging
Technologies,
IA
Summit
23 April 2015
27

28. Structure
and
Metadata:
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to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
I know what
I want to
find
I know my
direct window
on the web
Profile &
Context
model

29. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Model
what
you
know
in
a
consistent
way
SITUATION
SIGNALS
SITUATION
SIGNALS
LocaDon
Co-­‐occurring
events
Date
/
Dme
CondiDons
Devices
/
connecDvity
SITUATION
SIGNALS
USER
SIGNALS
Usage
pa]erns
Experience
Interests
/
profile
History
Community
CONTENT
SIGNALS
Link
relaDonships
Text
pa]erns
Categories
/
keywords
Metadata
TASK
SIGNALS
Outcomes
/
goals
Rules
/
requirements
CriDcality
Sequence
/
status
Frequency
for
user
From:
“SupporDng
Relevance
for
Users”,
D.Degler,
SemTechBiz
6.2013
h]p://www.designforcontext.com/publicaDons/supporDng-­‐relevance-­‐for-­‐users

30. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Be
serious
about
the
data
in
your
care
• Build
on
what
exists
• Increase
the
value
of
informaDon
• Encourage
understanding
and
knowledge-­‐building
• Respond
to
context
IA
MANIFESTO

31. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Balance
the
human
and
the
machine
• Humans
describe
stuff,
both
formally
and
informally…
can
help
• Metadata
capture
by
all
systems
in
an
ecosystem…
can
help
• Technology
idenDfies
descripDve
aspects…
can
help
YOU
create
an
environment
for
synthesis
and
meaning-­‐making

32. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Responsibility
• To
people
• To
informaDon
integrity
• To
meaning
• To
the
future

33. Structure
and
Metadata:
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the
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to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Architecture mind-set
Information discipline
Dynamic design sense

34. Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
@daliawithnoh
@ddegler
#IAS15
25
April
2015
• Build
on
what
exists
• Increase
the
value
of
informaDon
• Encourage
understanding
and
knowledge-­‐building
• Respond
to
context
• Be
serious
about
the
data
in
your
care
IA
MANIFESTO

35. Duane
Degler
@ddegler
duane@designforcontext.com
Dalia
R.
Levine
@daliawithnoh
daliawithnoh@gmail.com
Structure
and
Metadata:
Shortening
the
On-­‐Ramp
to
Linked
Data
IA
Summit
25
April
2015
designforcontext.com/publicaDons