The analysis and design of tagging systems : a semiotics and activity theory approach

• Main Author: Elhussein, Mariam Ahmed Mustafa
• Published: University of Reading 2014
• Subjects: 004
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.625439

Social tagging is considered one of the important tools used in the Web2.0 applications. It represents an economical way of supporting systems by employing users to provide tags. A number of functionalities can be provided using tagging such as retrieval, categorisation, and expression of opinion just to name a few. One of the functions that can be provided using tagging is the support of cross-lingual information retrieval (CUR) through providing tags in different languages. This approach promises a solution that may not include the complexities associated with the traditional approaches, especially automatic translation problems. One of the main problems that exist with tagging is that users are free to tag. This can result in tags that do not support the system as needed. Directing users' tagging behaviour towards supporting the system might be a challenge while maintaining users' freedom. This problem was linked to the lack of a design process that can be followed to construct tagging systems. The problem was approached by investigating ways to identify the interacting components of tagging systems. A design process was identified to construct tagging systems that directs tagging behaviour. The dynamic of the tagging system was interpreted based on two theories: organisational semiotics and activity theory. The design process was evaluated using three experiments that tested three behaviours: self organisation, categorisation for others and CUR support. Based on these studies, it was found that users can be directed into providing desired types of tagging behaviour. The design process can be extended to construct systems that are based on user collaboration, though further research needs to be conducted to verify this.