The consumer-based search: a taxonomic reaction
description
Transcript of The consumer-based search: a taxonomic reaction
The consumer-based search: a taxonomic
reaction
August 23, 2007
Julia Remick
Information Scientist
Yellow Book USA
User interface for yellowbook.com
About our site
Upgraded to taxonomy-driven logic for category searches in December 2005
Philosophy: users first, advertisers second
Currently maintaining aggressive release schedule
Business name search also utilizes alias tables
Our taxonomy: properties
Product + service taxonomy Housed within a proprietary application
inherited from our parent company (UK) Hierarchical structure with categories
represented at the highest level Search categories are aligned with print
headings and maintained accordingly Maintained and developed by team of
information scientists
Basic structure of the taxonomy
Heading example
How to sustain and expand a taxonomy
Heading development Top search term review/repair Integration of third-party taxonomies Fake it with good search logic
Taxonomy + search logic: Match &
relevancy techniques
Boolean logic Stemming, fuzzy string searching, etc. Term frequencies in taxonomy Stop lists Comparisons to ad content Ask the metadata
Taxonomy challenges
Disambiguation/refinement
Taxonomy challenges (con’t)
Frequently changing logic Universal resolutions often impossible “Completeness” of the taxonomy
When taxonomy meets Web 2.0
Collaborative categorization: folksonomies (tags!)
Issues:Often unstructured (non-hierarchical)Security, inconsistency, spamming all
issues that require vigilant monitoring/editing
A “growing season” Possible solution: taxonomy-directed
folksonomy