Metadata: Defining and Harnessing [2009]

This presentation defines metadata as “data about data” and taxonomies as the “controlled vocabularies” used to organize it. It champions “faceted taxonomies” —using simple categories like “Cuisines” or “Brand”—as the key to powering website search and avoiding comically bad, complex hierarchies (like one that includes animals “belonging to the emperor”). The talk also covers the practical side, asking who decides on metadata, what it costs to create, if machines can help, and how to start.