Enhancing on-line collaboration using topic maps to implicitly and explicitly categorize discussion

The process by which media resources are categorized can be either implicit or explicit. Placing files in file system directories is an example of explicit categorization. Searching, using tools such as Google is an example of implicit categorization. An examination of the categorization process, combined with a fusion of the ideas around topic maps and learning objects, leads to principles that should be considered as the basis for the design of on-line collaboration systems. The process of categorization while managing media resources in a personal space, for example a person's hard drive and email, leads to reflection on how these principles can be applied to the design of discussion systems. These are extensions of a personal space to a group or shared space.