A Meta-data Taxonomy

Data footprint (Aboriginal art symbol)

Meta-data is often confused with meta-models, mirroring the confusion between data and information. That misconception may be progressively reconsidered as the result of two major developments, both calling for a uniform and principled description of data independently of business-specific contents: compliance with privacy regulations, and the training of Large language models (LLMs). Hence the benefit of defining meta-data as labels meant to characterise provenance and modus-operandi without being specific about actual contents.

Data Provenance and Modalities

Exemples

  • A. D. Trump said ” “
  • B. Forbes estimated Trump’s net worth at $3.1 billion
  • C. 100.000 people demonstrated for …
  • D. Year on year inflation has been
  • E. Iceland earthquakes during the last 48 hours
  • F. Books most frequently added to Goodreads members’ shelves, updated weekly

Who

Ownership (past and present) of data

  • A. D. Trump, public
  • B. Forbes, public
  • C. Reuters, public
  • D. Office for National Statistics, public
  • E. Icelandic Meteorological Office, public
  • F. Google, public

Where

Location (physical or symbolic) of the source of data

  • A. NY Court
  • B. Forbes
  • C. Reuters
  • D. idem
  • E. idem
  • F. idem

When

Life cycle (initial and revision timestamps) of data

  • A. Oct 2, 2023
  • B. Oct 3, 2023
  • C. Nov 13, 2023
  • D. Nov 15, 2023
  • E. Nov 15, 2023
  • F. Nov 15, 2023

What

Nature (symbolic, digital, physical) of data

  • A. Text/Speech
  • B. Numerical
  • C. Numerical
  • D. Numerical
  • E. Document
  • F. Document

How

Modality (managed, observed, assessed, predicted) of data

  • A. Observed
  • B. Assessed
  • C. Assessed
  • D. Measured
  • E. Observed
  • F. Managed

FURTHER READING

KALEIDOSCOPE SERIES

OTHER CAMINAO REFERENCES

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