Annotation Systems

Annotation System-s typically allow any reader/user to attach a comment (structured or not) to any web object-node they find.

Systems that make Annotation visible at the original source

• modern: Hypothesis
• There have been browser plug-ins like Third Voice for these.
• Microsoft started to launch MsSmartTags, but an outcry caused them to pull the plug. The biggest issue was that they would be the primary supplier of annotations.
• There have been proxy servers like Crit Org http://crit.org/

In the short-term it seems like a bad idea to have annotations spread through multiple non-integrated systems. On the other hand, maybe it makes sense to have each Virtual Community running its own annotation system. But how many communities are you part of?

• This seems similar to the issues of having Chandler/OSAF hold your personal notes, while also allow sharing/mixing of content in something like a shared Team Wiki.

Annotea Semantic Web activity

I wonder whether BackLinks creates a similar effect...