Using a real-world example of a particularly challenging categorization task, we'll look at data-layer solutions for several different approaches to categorizing, cataloging, organizing, systematizing information. Data-modeling geeks, bring your thinking caps! Once we define the problem space and some terms we'll use for discussion, I'd like this session to be very participatory.

I'll try to keep our discussion grounded in concrete reality—using examples from research, medical records, standards compliance, and product formulation—but the issues involved apply to many domains of information. I'll also illustrate approaches that fail, using examples from multi-national corporations and local/county/federal government.

Our holy grail will be a single, elegant data model that is equally well suited to several major types of categorization tasks, but at worst maybe we'll agree on a best model for each of several different categorization systems. 

Host: Allen Poole

cdsnw.com