This would also be a way of including some more formal method
of document classification, such as Dewey Decimal or Universal Decimal.
e.g., <META name="class" content="667">
or <META name="DDC" content="796.1">
as it would almost certainly be necessary to specify the classification system
in use (both to enable the right sort of search and to allow translation
between classificaton systems).
Search engines could then catalogue pages by *context* (ie. subject) as
well as by content.
The nice thing about some sort of classification system is that it's both more
abstract and more precise than using simple keywords (which can be *very*
ambiguous). It can also help resolve spelling differences - e.g., you
put the keyword "color" in your Meta tag, but I search for "colour" - this
could be a problem with a text search, but in DDC they're both classmark 667.
Also, differences in terminology can be solved - you may say "automobile" and I
may look for "car" (problem!), but in DDC they may both be classified as 796.7
Unlike "real" physical libraries, which can only classify a book under
one classmark (or else have two copies, both under different classmarks),
on the Web you can cross-classify a document as much as is useful.
For an example of this sort of system (though without the META tag part, as
no-one is doing this sort of thing with META yet) please take a look
at:
<URL:http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/wwlib>
which is a classified catalogue of c.2000 UK web sites.
(NB - it will be out of action from 18.00 BST on 25 Aug to midnight on
28 Aug, due to major electrical work at our site).
Comments and constructive criticism are very welcome.
--
Jon Wallis
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The School of Computing & Information Technology
University of Wolverhampton
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Wolverhampton Tel : (0902) 322203
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UK Internet : [email protected]
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N.B. Opinions are mine and not the University's!
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