How does an editor classify the Web? - Resources for my research.

Discussion in 'ODP / DMOZ' started by douttorx, Feb 19, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hi, I am a Brazilian student of Computer Science and I am interested in the classification of links of the Open Directory Project.

    Firstly I would like to congratulate the people that contribute to turn the web a better place to navigate.

    I read on ODP in the own page and I still have some doubts about the classification of web sites.
    I would like to know how it is made the classification.
    If it is at level of web sites or level of web pages?
    The editors just classify web sites, or web sites AND web pages?

    I thank all.
     
    douttorx, Feb 19, 2008 IP
  2. Alucard

    Alucard Peon

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    douttorx, in most cases (there are exceptions) editors will look at the totality of a site and decide where it fits. This means looking at the pages that make up the site, and ensuring that they fit within a particular category.

    So, for example, if a site is about Widgets and the ODP has a category for Widgets and subcategories for Yellow, Blue and Red Widgets, editors will look at the site and see if it contains information on each of the colours of widget or just one colour. If just one colour, then it will go into the subcategory for that colour. If the there are inidividual pages for each colour of widget, then rather than list each page in each subcategory, the editor is asked to list the main site at the top level Widgets category. I hope that example illustrates for you.

    Now, as I said there are exceptions - some sites have a broader focus than one category, and some are so comprehensive as a resource that inidividual pages fit well as listings.

    For example, a builder of Widgets that has a Widget store in Happytown - this is of interest to those that are looking for widget builders, but also those that are looking for businesses in Happytown. In that case, the site will get two listings - one in a so-called "Topical" category along with the other widget-builders, and a second in the Business listings for Happytown.

    An example of the second type are sites that contain very comprehensive information about all of the Hollywood movies ever made. In this case, editors have the power to decide (usually after reaching concensus) that the site is worthy of so-called "deeplinking" - which means that individual pages on the site could get listed.

    Why make it so complicated and so "open to interpretation"? It was felt that trying to find a highly systematic way of doing this would not result in a directory that was of most service to the surfer. Also, given how some people love to "game" the automated search engines, who have had to refine and refine their algorithms in order to keep these people under some degree of control, the rules are left open so that humans can determine what, in their opinion, is "best" when it is obvious that someone is trying to "game" the system.

    I hope this helps to answer your very good questions. Good luck with your research.
     
    Alucard, Feb 20, 2008 IP
  3. douttorx

    douttorx Active Member

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    #3
    Hi Alucard.
    I paused a few days.
    Now returning.
    Thank you very much his answer.
    Helped me to get an interesting idea about the links classification.

    It would be something like hierarchical classification, right?
    First I see if all web pages of a web site fit in the category of the web site. If so then the web site is part of a

    category. Otherwise I put the site in a class and the web pages into subcategories.
    When we have two major issues in a web site it will be listed in two categories, right?
    I understood as deeplinking sites with pages on various topics that can be classified separately.


    I want to make me a publisher of the ODP and already sent my registration form and am awaiting response. I do not want to

    promote me, I am just saying in my interest to make me a publisher. My e-mail has been validated. Is there any way that I

    monitor the evaluation process? My chosen category is:
    Top: World: Portuguese: Computing: Programming: Personal Pages


    I wonder how the tools are that the publisher uses. There is software for this work? What are the needs of an editor? What he needs?

    Knowing the pages that it will include in the directory? From what I understand is the publisher web pages and web sites that

    are in line with the directive of inclusion of Web sites in ODP and then includes a web site or a web page.
    A category may have more than one editor. But one editor, in principle, working alone on the issue of its category, and when

    a Web site is more complex meets online with other publishers to decide on the links contained in a particular site?
    So actually there is a working group in the ranking of sites. And can generate a small disagreement, for example, a publisher

    may think that a link fits in a particular category and another editor to think that this same link fits in another category

    more specific. How to resolve this disagreement? What I want to conclude is that when a publisher includes a site in a category

    can then have a chance to he wrong in classifying links. In this case it will be supervised by other publishers who can

    correct this error.

    The elements of evaluation for a Web site are texts, images, and perhaps the URL contained in this web site, right?

    Excuse me for the amount of questions. If you can help me thank you very much.
    Many days without entering here, it appeared many questions. Just doing virtually all one hour only. So if you want to go

    responding to a few, I have no hurry.

    I am learning to English now and still do not have mastery of this language, so I help myself with a software translator and chose a

    category in Portuguese to edit.

    A hug.
     
    douttorx, Feb 27, 2008 IP
  4. budalata

    budalata Peon

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    budalata, Feb 27, 2008 IP
  5. douttorx

    douttorx Active Member

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    #5
    Hello budalata.

    I know the second link and read almost everything.
    But I don't have knowledge about first link: Forum in Portuguese language.
    I will check.
    Thanks.
     
    douttorx, Feb 27, 2008 IP
  6. Alucard

    Alucard Peon

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    You may definitely get some good answers to your questions there, douttorx. And from more than just the editors that hang out here. Good luck with your application!
     
    Alucard, Feb 28, 2008 IP
  7. douttorx

    douttorx Active Member

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    Ok, Alucard.
    Thanks by attention.
     
    douttorx, Feb 28, 2008 IP