Using Structural Metadata to Localize Experience of Digital Content

Title: Using Structural Metadata to Localize Experience of Digital Content

Abstract: This research aims to create a framework that separates digital object experience or rendering from digital object storage and manipulation. This approach allows for localized rendering of digital information stored externally. The framework consists of two key components: structural metadata associated with digital objects and information intermediaries called context brokers. These context brokers match structural characteristics of digital objects with mechanisms that produce behaviors, enabling localized rendering of digital information.

Introduction: The increasing technical sophistication of both information consumers and providers has led to a demand for more meaningful experiences of digital information. This study addresses the challenges of diverse, ever-changing file formats, distributed storage locations, and the desire for unique, integrated experiences of digital content. The research proposes a separation of digital information presentation from the content itself, drawing an analogy to the separation of data from rendering instructions in XML and XSLT.

Methodology: The research defines a digital object as a container that aggregates digital content in various formats. Examples include a video of a lecture, a PowerPoint presentation of the slides, and a SMIL file containing descriptive and synchronization metadata. The experience of this digital content is achieved through a behavior mechanism that manipulates the raw digital content to produce the rendering.

Results: The study presents a framework consisting of two main components: structural metadata and context brokers. Structural metadata labels access points within a digital object, while context brokers match structural characteristics with behavior mechanisms. This allows for localized rendering of digital information stored externally.

Implications: This research has significant implications for the management and presentation of digital content. By separating the experience of digital information from its storage and manipulation, the framework allows for extensibility in both file formats and behaviors. It also enables localized rendering of digital information, making the experience more meaningful and manageable for users.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0112017v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0112017v1