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Taxonomies vs tagging: high context, low context

Patrick Lambe has written an entry exploring taxonomies vs tagging, taking a different approach from other debates on this topic. To quote:

We have to keep reminding ourselves, in taxonomy work, (a) how idiosyncratic and innovative human beings are in the way we structure our worlds; and (b) the difference between "high context" organisation systems (where you have to be educated into the original context/principle of ordering in order to be able to navigate it) and "low context" organisation systems (where it's self-evident as soon as you get into it). I've taken this useful distinction from Edward T. Hall's 1977 book Beyond Culture.

(Update: sorry about the broken link earlier, it's fixed now.)

Posted by jamesr on June 21, 2006 08:47 PM
Categories: Information architecture