Annotation

Names

Annotation, Web Annotation, Semantic Annotation
(es) Anotación, Anotación Web, Anotación Semántica

Definition

A Web Annotation/Semantic Annotation is information added on an original text or resource. The original resource itself is not altered.

Examples

• A comment in a blog entry/forum
• A categorization (attaching a label to a content)
• Linking to complementary resources (transcripts, translations, content dissection, etc)
• Moderation/Evaluation scores (readers telling whether it is worthy reading)
• Linking to centralized reference for that work / concept / etc

Observations

• An annotation itself might be subject to annotation

Analysis

W3C Annotea/Amaya implement RDF annotations. @@@ CHECKPOINT: Consider whether that is adequate @@@

Data

• (field) annotation subject
  • resource URI
  • locator in resource
  • propagation (to alternate media types, languages, rephrasings)
• (field) annotation type : As in RDF properties, might be an URL
• (field) annotation payload (might contain the rest/many of the other fields)
• (field) annotation id (might refer to a RDF object with the payload and the rest of
• (field) annotation permisions (who can display,edit)
• (field) annotation owner(s), followers.
• (field) timestamps
• (field) flags/system tags (e.g. pending revision, schedulled for deletion)

Observations

• We might enforce for the annotations to be done on a resource's reference (with an internal URI) rather than on the resource URI itself. Then the only annotation on the resource itself might be the reference annotation.
•  ? Any problems if many annotations of the same type are made on the resource

Types of Annotation

• Reference Related
  • Reference Annotation. If part of a resource, then provide the range within the complete reference
  • Summary
  • Equals/Equivalent To: Repetition of content. Applied annotations might be merged
  • AlternativeMedia: Different language or media type
• Text Comment related
  • Untyped Comment
  • Question: Ask the author (or other readers) for clarification
  • Answer: Propose an answer to a (non-rethoric) question
  • Objection: Report bad data or argumentation
  • Antagonist: Expose an alternative hypothesis/proposal
  • AlternativeExpression: Same concept in different words
• Review Related
  • Review
  • Review Call/Seal of Approval: Ask authorized peers/authority to check
  • Minor correction/Whisper to author
  • CertaintyValoration: Certain,Consensus,EvenCertainty,Dubious,Discounted (based on the consensus, the state of objections, antagonists)
  • ReadersValoration: Like/Dislike, Score out of 5. Might be as well an score in different categories (informative,readerFriendly,...)
  • ValorationTags: As is Slashdot (Inspired,Informative,Funny ...).
• Content Extension
  • Follow-up: Provide further detail on a point
    • Spread: Introduce more concepts
    • Weave: Interlink with other concepts
    • Dive: Provide further detail about the topic
  • TopicReference: The topic developed in a reference work (like an Enciclopedia)
  • PrimarySource: Give credit of the concept from the source (primary research, historic chronicles, factual databases)
  • Example
  • Proof
  • Because/Therefore? (Causality)
• Link related
  • Untyped (incoming) Link
  • Categorization (As in Delicious bookmarks)
  • Bibliographic link (what about a flag indicating that source is a peer-reviewed publication?)

Any user/application might provide additional annotations.
An annotation might have multiple types? (if infrequent, then might have a "compound" type, or non-core types specified on annotations on the annotation).
If many types are specified, it might be easy to use a wrong type. Power/Trusted user might be enabled/encouraged to edit the annotation metadata (including type).
Amaya provides types: Advice,Change,Comment,Example,Explanation,Question,SeeAlso