Semantic Fragmentation

Semantic fragmentation occurs when information that should be connected is not connected. It occurs when business professionals use inconsistent terms to describe the same thing, inconsistent descriptions of things, or connections which should be made have not been made, etc.

Semantic fragmentation contributes to the integration hairball of most business enterprises large and small. Artificial intelligence will not work well in such an environment.

Metadata helps to solve this semantic fragmentation problem. Semantic metadata helps to solve this problem even more.  It improves semantic hygiene. It solves the "data janitor" problem. It reduces the threat of inaccuracy. It provides unprecedented clarity.

Metadata and semantic metadata work in the background.  But they supercharge software systems and will enable new ways of performing work.

Metadata and semantic metadata enable new ways to interact with information. You can get richer answers to your questions faster. You will discover relationships you never new existed.  Information that is related to other information can be discovered. Costs of all this will decrease.

Upper level ontologies improve metadata and semantic metadata.  Remember, computers are dumb beasts. Reducing or removing as much semantic fragmentation as possible will supercharge your software systems and make capabilities which were impossible before very doable.

In his book, Everything is Miscellaneous, David Weinberger explains the three orders of order:
  • First order of order. Putting books on shelves is an example the first order of order.
  • Second order of order. Creating a list of books on the shelves you have is an example of second order of order. This can be done on paper or it can be done in a database.
  • Third order of order. Adding even more information to information is an example of third order of order. Using the book example, classifying books by genre, best sellers, featured books, bargain books, books which one of your friends has read; basically there are countless ways to organize something.
Weinberger goes on to explain that third-order practices make a company's existing assets more profitable, increase customer loyalty, and seriously reduce costs.  If you don't understand this it is important to improve your digital proficiency.

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