More on Tagging…
In Part 1, we introduced tagging as a way for users to collectively classify and find information. This practice of collectively creating a classification leads to the interesting concept of folksonomy:
- A folksonomy is a system of classification derived from the practice and method of collaboratively creating and managing tags to annotate and categorize content. Analysis has shown that consensus around stable distributions and shared vocabularies does emerge, even in the absence of a central controlled vocabulary and, in large folksonomies, common structures also emerge on the level of categorizations.
- A folksonomy lowers the barriers to cooperation. Groups of users do not have to agree on a hierarchy of tags or detailed taxonomy, they only need to agree, in a general sense, on the “meaning” of a tag enough to label similar material with terms for there to be cooperation and shared value.
- Some websites include tag clouds as a way to visualize tags in a folksonomy. Tag clouds allow users to navigate using association of ideas.
Any other concept related to Enterprise 2.0 that you want to touch upon?