Nov 23, 2001

New DVD recorder a step toward displacing VCR: This article provides a useful rundown on the various competing formats in DVD-related technology. [link from Lawrence's Notebook]

Limitations of my blog and metadata

Part of my daily routine is to read the weblogs of Chris and Isaac, two co-workers at the Interactive University. Chris and I have been been encouraging Isaac to join us in blogging (much in the way that Chris got me in the habit of daily blogging: "just flip the page and write one tidbit" was the mantra.) Although the daily blogging routine is one I've gotten into and want to continue, I sympathize with Isaac's questions/reservations about blogging. I've been wondering for a while how to deal with the current limitations of my blog. For one, it's been a mishmash of observations, questions, topics. To anyone but myself, it will lack enough context. However the work to place seemingly random tidbits into context is too great to provide, certainly all in one go. I brainstormed some ways to deal with this problem in January. Chris also made the key observation that context can filled in over time. More experimentation is certainly needed.

On a related note, I've been wondering about the role of metadata in my blog (and other blogs associated with the IU). I'm glad that the issue is currently being discussed in the klog (knowledge log Yahoo group). Some posters feel that metadata are basically useless (because they are difficult to get users to enter and because everyone probably uses different taxonomies to organize his blog.) Others think that metadata are quite useful and the question is really about how to make it easier to input metadata. I tend to believe that metadata are useful, especially in combination with full-text, natural language searches. There is also a need to handle a variety of metadata of varying quality and completeness. More to think through obviously, but that is work for another day.

Oct Dec

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