Definition

MicroContent is a generic term for an addressable structured indivisible self-contained piece of digital information 2225).

MicroContent contrasts with Content in general thanks to the use of these adjectives (2185):

- Self-contained: the piece of information can stand on it’s own. There is no need for context. All the meaning is contained in itself. This allows a MicroContent Item to be single, to live on it’s own. (2228)

- Indivisible: a MicroContent Item can no longer be cut into smaller useful pieces. This adjective explains the micro-part of MicroContent. Micro is a very elusive term and indivisible is a better description.

- Structured: MicroContent does not consist of a single blob of information, but it has structure. One can distinguish between metadata and internal structure. Metadata is information that pertains to the publication of an MicroContent item, such as the author, the publication date/time, the permalink, etc. The internal structure can be limited to a single field, which contains the actual information. However usually more Fields are used. (is there a relation with Dublin Core here?) The Fields used in a MicroContent Item defines the MicroContent Type.

- Addressable: MicroContent is addressable on the Internet. This implies that it has a permalink, or better an (perma)URI. The permalink is an essential part of the structure of MicroContent. The addressability of a MicroContent Item is what makes MicroContent interesting.

Note that I do not user the word small as this has become ambiguous. The word MicroContent can also apply to pieces that are in fact very large in terms of megabytes. Sometimes the word small is used in relation to screen size, such as a mobile phone. (2419) Ideally a MicroContent Item is flexible, that it is possible to add new fields and thus enhance the structure of an item (2225). We usually think of MicroContent as computer data, but that does not have to be the case.

There might exist a relation between Items. The relation might be episodic, meaning that the Items are a sequence in time. (2420, 2419, 2199)

The word Content should be seen in the range data, information, content and knowledge. Data refers to how things are transcribed in computers. Information is what is stored, Content is about presenting to the user and knowledge is the meaning the user takes out of it. (note to self: this is a lousy definition. there are better ones around).  (2245))

One can look at MicroContent from various perspectives (Views).