How effective are auto-classification tools for subject-based taxonomies? When custom taxonomies are created and used for subject classification, the results are well received.
Good results are dependent on good rule building. Good rules are not limited to noun identification, nor are they constrained by hierarchical position, especially when they take full advantage of truncation and character string proximity conditions. At Access Innovations, we have never had any problems and are getting proper postings from the automatic system. We do follow the standards, which specify tagging at the most specific level. When there are multiple broader terms and a full path or breadcrumb trail is needed for the content management system (CMS), we include all the paths to the terms as separate listings, rather than a single list. This provides better retrieval for the user and more relevant results.
It is unfortunate that some CMS system designers and users still think that finding web pages is like filing physical books in a library, rather than seeing the opportunity for multiple avenues of access to a digital object as allowed by a computer.
Proper indexing against a strong standards-based taxonomy increases the findability of data. Access Innovations is one of a very small number of companies able to help its clients generate ANSI/ISO/W3C-compliant taxonomies.
Melody K. Smith
Sponsored by Data Harmony, a unit of Access Innovations, the world leader in indexing and making content findable.
