USE OF CLASSIFICATION SCHEMES ON THE WEB

Classification Challenge

Use of Classification Schemes on the Web

As well as the traditional use in libraries, classification schemes are also useful in organisation and information retrieval on the Web

Trends in accessing Internet resources on the Web: Navigational Searches

Use of real life editors to create navigational search using subject trees or directories of hierarchical categories to capture information on the Web were initially very popular. For example, Open Directory Project and Yahoo - utilising Enumerative principles of traditional classification schemes such as Dewey and Library of Congress.

Direct SearchSoftware robots or spiders are used to check and review content changes on the Internet. Results are generally more consistent and broader than that of navigational search, but may not be as focused (depending on the search terms used). With the explosion of new and changing content , search engines such as Google have risen in popularity.

Faceted SearchCombining the capabilities of both navigational and direct search , faceted search is frequently found on e-Commerce sites. Typically a search combines a keyword search narrowed down either before or after the search by including specific categories or ‘facets’ of a product.

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Use of Classification Schemes on the Web

Open Directory Project 5,285,958 sites 99,910 editors over 1,020,676

categories

The Open Directory Project is described as the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a global community of volunteer editors.The hierarchical structure, makes it easy to explore by subject, using the breadcrumbs at the top of each directory page to move to a broader, more specific, or related subject area.

3Directories

Use of Classification Schemes on the Web

Dewey Decimal 10 Main Classes:000 Computer science information & general works (Reference)100 Philosophy (Society) & psychology (Science)200 Religion (Society)300 Social sciences (Society)400 Language (Society)500 Science 600 Technology (Science)700 Arts & recreation 800 Literature Society)900 History (Society) & Geography (Reference / Regional)

4Mapping of DDC to the Open Directory

Use of Classification Schemes on the Web

Open Directory Project

Browsing the Directory for:‘Architecture and library buildings’ gives 16 focused hits and a link to 28 related websites within Reference.

By contrast, the same search performed on Google retrieves 4,180,000 results in 0.21 seconds including this amazing link on p.5 to images of ‘62 of the World’s most beautiful Libraries’ from an online magazine, mental_Flos.

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Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web

Yahoo Directory6

Yahoo Directory is a human-created and maintained collection of websites organised into main categories and subcategories.

Yahoo Search and Yahoo Directory work together to return a list of webpages containing the search term entered. The results are a combination of relevant webpages provided by Search and Directory.

Main subject classes are very similar to the Open Directory Project

Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web

Yahoo Directory7

Browsing the Directory for ‘Architecture and library buildings’ produced no relevant hits about library buildings.

Using the same search term with Yahoo Search retrieved 28,100,000 results in less than a second.

Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web

Direct Search : Google

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Direct search for Architecture and library buildings : 4,180,000 results (0.27 seconds) 

Filtering on Books :44,000 results in 0.39 seconds

Further refine search by selecting Search Tools \ Any Books \ Preview Available

Finally select Sorted by Date to display the most recent books on the subject.

How Search Works

Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web

Faceted Search - Paperchase9

Paperchase online store combines the capabilities of navigational search with faceted search.

Intelligent navigation software dynamically creates search facets that allow users to apply any number of facets, from price to size, colour, popularity and even type of binding. What more can you ask when searching for perfect stationery ?

Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web

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A search for real estate is a good example of how the principles of faceted classification can be used to improve information retrieval on the Web.

The relevant facets are identified:Number of rooms, type of building, area and price range and concepts listed for each facet.