The language used to describe information systems can vary significantly between contexts. This page explains the meaning of the key terms used throughout the Hearthwicke website and service description. Understanding these terms will help users navigate the available information more effectively and ensure that enquiries are framed accurately.
Information organisation
Information organisation refers to the process of arranging content in a way that makes it easier to locate, navigate, and understand. In the context of Hearthwicke, this means applying a consistent structure to the information available within the system so that users can find what is relevant to their enquiry without navigating through large volumes of unstructured content.
Organisation is distinct from generation. Hearthwicke organises information that exists within the scope of the system; it does not create information where none exists. The organisational function is designed to reduce the effort required to reach relevant content, not to supplement it with constructed material.
Classification schema
A classification schema is a set of rules for grouping and labelling information according to defined categories. The Hearthwicke system applies a classification schema to the content it handles. This schema determines how different types of content are categorised and where they appear within the system's structure.
The schema is not visible to users directly. Its effect is experienced through the consistency and navigability of the system — the fact that similar types of content are presented in similar ways, regardless of when they were accessed or who is viewing them.
The review layer
The term "review layer" refers to the way in which Hearthwicke presents information for inspection. Rather than displaying raw content, the system applies an intermediate layer that formats, contextualises, and organises what is shown. This layer is designed to support interpretation rather than just display.
The review layer does not alter the factual content of the information it presents. Its purpose is presentational: to arrange and display content in a way that supports the user's understanding of it.
Enquiry routing
Enquiry routing refers to the process by which a user's submission is directed to the appropriate team member or area for review. When a user submits an enquiry through the contact form, the system routes that submission to the relevant part of the team based on the request type selected.
Routing is not an automated decision-making process. It determines where a submission is directed, not how it is evaluated or what the outcome will be. All enquiries are reviewed by a member of the team, and routing is simply the mechanism by which they reach the right person.
Structured content
Structured content is content that has been arranged according to a defined organisational logic, as opposed to unstructured content which may be stored and presented without a consistent format. Hearthwicke handles structured content, meaning that what users encounter within the system follows a predictable format and consistent categorisation.
The advantage of structured content is navigability. Users can form expectations about how information will be presented and use those expectations to locate what they need more efficiently. Structured content also allows the system to apply classification rules consistently across different areas.
Access request
An access request is an enquiry submitted by a user who wishes to gain access to a part of the service that is not publicly available, or who needs to interact with the system in a way that requires prior review by the team. Access requests are submitted through the contact form and are reviewed individually.
The term "access request" does not imply that access will be granted. It is a description of the type of enquiry being submitted, not a commitment to a particular outcome. The outcome of each access request is determined by the team following individual review of the submission.
Contact
If you have a question about the terminology used on this site that is not addressed here, please contact the team.
Hearthwicke Digital Ltd
Suite 14, Foundry House, 38 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2EQ, United Kingdom
[email protected]
+44 (0)113 520 4817