SKOS-XL vs. Traditional Term Based Taxonomy Management

1. Jim Sweeney
Product Manager
Synaptica, LLC
SKOS-XL vs.
Traditional Term
Based
Taxonomy
Management

2. Taxonomy Defined
tax·on·o·my
/takˈsän mē/
ə
Noun
The branch of science concerned with
classification; systematics.
The classification of something: "the taxonomy
of these fossils".

3. Traditional Term Based Mgt.
• Each Term represents the meaning of the
“concept”, which may result in a degree of
subjectivity.
• Each “concept” may be represented
independently by Terms in multiple languages.
• Each Term may be associated with a set of
metadata records to offer further context and
which may differ in each language.

4. Fair Enough…
Mammals
Chiens(Fr.)
Chats(Fr.)
Perros(Sp.)
Cats
Dogs
Gatos(Sp.)
Mutts(En.)
Dominant Language
Hierarchy
Alternate Language
Equivalencies
Synonyms
Hunde(De.)
Terriers
Sheepdogs

5. Term Metadata Values
Dog:
Definition: A domesticated carnivorous mammal
that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of
smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice.
Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris
Editorial Notes: Term added 1/1/2011. Term
updated 4/4/2012.
Language: English

6. Introducing SKOS
(Simple Knowledge Organization System)
• Developed and refined by W3C working group
from 2006 to 2008
• Recommendation Published in 2009
• “SKOS is an area of work developing
specifications and standards to support the
use of knowledge organization systems (KOS)
such as thesauri, classification schemes,
subject heading systems and taxonomies
within the framework of the Semantic Web.”
SKOS definition taken from: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/intro

7. SKOS “Concepts”
• One of the fundamental differences between
traditional term based taxonomy management
and SKOS is that the “concept” itself is abstract
and meaning for it is derived from a collection of
independent “labels” equally; not from any one
term that defines a singular idea as in Term Based
management.
• Where term based management might be
considered more one-dimensional in its
approach, SKOS could be considered multidimensional in assigning meaning.

8. SKOS Collection
English Preferred Label:
Mammals
English Preferred Label: Cats
French Preferred Label: Chats
Spanish Preferred Label: Gatos
English Preferred Label: Dogs
French Preferred Label: Chiens
Spanish Preferred Label: Perros
German Preferred Label: Hunde
English Alternate Label: Mutts
French Alternate Label: Clebs
English Preferred
Label: Terriers
English Preferred
Label: Sheepdogs

9. SKOS-XL (eXtension for Labels)
• In 2009 a recommendation was made to
expand SKOS to accommodate metadata for
labels.
• This allows for notes and other detailed
information to be associated with preferred,
alternate, and hidden label entries.
• In addition, URIs (Uniform Resource Identifier)
may be used to identify Concepts and Labels
such that they may be used in other
Controlled Vocabularies.

10. SKOS-XL Concept / Label Mgmt.
Concepts may be
managed in association
with their preferred,
alternate, and hidden
labels.

11. SKOS-XL Concept / Label Mgmt.
Concept details are displayed and editable as
associated with the specified language.
Information and ID’s are for concepts and not
the assigned labels.

12. SKOS-XL Concept / Label Mgmt.
Preferred, Alternate (Synonyms), and
Hidden labels are managed
independently through label
management screens.

13. SKOS-XL Concept / Label Mgmt.
Concept and label attributes are also managed
independently.

14. SKOS-XL Concept / Label Mgmt.
Finally, all related concepts are available for
review and edit, again displayed in the
language selected.

15. Conclusions and Questions
• SKOS-XL presents a versatile method to
represent controlled vocabularies through the
use of independent Concept and Label
definitions.
• This method does also present challenges in
learning a new way of understanding how
meaning is assigned to a “concept”.
• Is SKOS-XL appropriate and/or necessary for
your organization’s approach to knowledge
management?

16. Thank You!
Jim Sweeney
Product Manager, Synaptica
Jim.sweeney@synaptica.com
www.synaptica.com
SKOS-XL vs.
Traditional Term
Taxonomy and
Ontology
Management