Web annotation

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A Web annotation is an online annotation associated with a web resource, typically a web page. With a Web annotation system, a user can add, modify or remove information from a Web resource without modifying the resource itself. The annotations can be thought of as a layer on top of the existing resource, and this annotation layer is usually visible to other users who share the same annotation system, making it a type of social software tool.

Web annotation can be used for the following purposes:

  • to rate a Web resource, such as by its usefulness, user-friendliness, suitability for viewing by minors.
  • to improve or adapt its contents by adding/removing material, something like a wiki.
  • as a collaborative tool, e.g. to discuss the contents of a certain resource.
  • as a medium of artistic or social criticism, by allowing Web users to reinterpret, enrich or protest against institution or ideas that appear on the Web.
  • to quantify transient relationships between information fragments.

Contents

[edit] Web annotation systems

Web browsers typically have some form of web annotation system built-in as standard. Below are some alternative systems.

[edit] Systems in release or under development

  • A.nnotate[1] - notes on web pages and uploaded PDF/Word documents attached to highlighted text
  • co-ment[2] - a free software Web service for uploading or creating on-line texts, submitting them to comments from designated users or the general public, and processing the comments.
  • Cozimo[3] - In-browser application sharing for annotating videos and images (free API).
  • Diigo - for highlighting text and posting sticky notes on webpages.
  • Fleck
  • iCyte - free browser extension (for Firefox and IE) that saves pages to iCyte's server and allows you to highlight text on webpages, enter tags and notes, and share with others
  • Marginalia[4] - open-source, Javascript-based, adds text highlighting and margin note capabilities to web applications.
  • MyAnnotations[5] - Free IE toolbar to attach sticky notes or text anchored comments.
  • PMOG - The Passively Multiplayer Online Game, uses a form of web annotation to link together websites and players in a web metagame.
  • Protonotes[6] - a piece of JavaScript for websites that allows visitors to add sticky notes.
  • Reframe It - A social network and web annotation tool that uses a browser extension. It allows users to comment in a margin on the live website, adjacent to the text or photo the comment references, without the website's permission. Comments can be filtered and are shared publicly or privately, with the ability to facilitate discussion. Has bookmarking capabilities.
  • RoohIt Free, web based (no download), no signup tool that MicroBookmarks any web page with a tinyURL that shows the page highlighted. Allows Bloggers/Webmasters to add a Highlighter button their website, and has an interesting "Highlights Ticker" widget that streams readers' highlights from across the WWW in real-time.
  • SharedCopy - AJAX-based web annotation with cache and shorten url with easy sharing functions.
  • ShiftSpace - has the tag line "an open source layer above any webpage" and is based on the Greasemonkey platform for Firefox.
  • Stickis - Firefox and IE toolbars that allow rich media notes to be attached to any web page. See only those from your friends anywhere you browse.
  • Trailfire
  • WebNotes[7] - highlight or sticky note content, organize annotations and share with colleagues by using either a toolbar or bookmarklet (IE or Firefox).
  • Yawas[8] - Yet Another Web Annotation System as a Firefox extension - uses Google Bookmarks to store the highlights and notes online, making annotations fully searchable. Recreates the highlights when the user revisits the page. Requires a google account.

[edit] Former systems

  • Annotea - a W3C project that tried to establish a standard for web annotation.
  • JumpKnowledge[9] - a free, web-based, cross-browser, registration-optional web page annotation tool.
  • ThirdVoice - a notable system launched in 1999 that shut down due to lack of success in April 2001.[10]
  • Wikalong - implemented a wiki which anyone could use to describe or comment or discuss a web page as it appeared on a certain date.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ A.nnotate
  2. ^ co-ment
  3. ^ cozimo
  4. ^ marginalia
  5. ^ MyAnnotations
  6. ^ Protonotes
  7. ^ WebNotes
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ JumpKnowledge
  10. ^ Third Voice Trails Off

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_annotation"
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