M1 - Annotation tool

Data Annotation

Data annotation refers to the process of adding information (annotations) to data so that the data can be categorised and processed by computers. Data annotation and data labelling are similar processes but there is a slight difference in the way objects of interest are tagged. Data annotation is integral to machine learning and without it, it would be impossible for machine learning algorithms to function correctly. Since more and more of the everyday activities in business, governments and households are dependent on artificial intelligence, it is now more important than ever to pay special attention to data annotation since it forms part of the foundation for AI-powered technology. Some of the activities that requires data annotation to function are traffic management systems (license plate recognition), smart home systems and search engines. Let's take a closer look at the different types of data annotation.

Semantic Annotation

This type of annotation is used to train AI systems such as chatbots and improve the accuracy of search engine results. Semantic annotation allows computer systems to detect and classify information more accurately.

Image and Video Annotation

All file types can benefit from data annotation, including image and video files. By annotating video and images, they can be "understood" by computers. Video and image data annotation has many different applications, but the process is most commonly used to identify e-commerce products and traffic management. For example, data annotation makes it possible to train computer systems to recognise vehicle registrations.

Text Classification / Categorisation

This type of data annotation is used to make it easier for users to find the data that they are searching for. The process is often used to classify and organise unstructured text into categories based on pre-defined rules.

How is Data Annotation Useful in Everyday Situations?

Data annotation tools are useful in a variety of situations, including:

Better Search Results : Many users across the globe rely on search engines to provide them with useful and accurate information that is relevant to the topic they are searching for. Data annotation makes it easier for search engines to find the information that users are looking for. It is much easier for computer systems to search through structured data, which results in more accurate search results and faster search times.

Refined Custom Search Results : Search engines cater for a global or large audience but in many cases, companies use customised search engines to search through local data. In this case, too, data annotation can improve data accessibility for both customers and staff members while improving business processes and automating certain actions.

Enhancing Social Media Experiences : Social media experiences can also be improved by using data annotation. Much like with search engines, social media requires structured data to provide meaningful suggestions to users. Image annotation is especially important in the case of social media because social media platforms are image-rich. By using data annotation, artificial intelligence can be used to categorise data so that users can find the information they want quickly and easily.

Data Annotation in Your Company : Embarking on a data annotation project might seem challenging at first glance but with the right planning and professional advice, it is possible to extract more value from your data. Planning is key in any data annotation project because the accuracy of data annotations influences many other business systems and activities. If your business relies on AI-driven systems, making sure that the parameters of your data annotation project are properly defined becomes even more important.

Security is key when it comes to data and this also applies to data annotation projects. Much of the data that organisations work with on a daily basis is protected by data privacy legislation such as the GDPR. This makes it important to ensure that data is handled appropriately so that consumers rights are protected and your company remains in compliance with the relevant regulations. In addition, data can often be complex and unorganised, in these cases, it is a good idea to make use of data annotation experts to ensure that your project runs smoothly.

In Conclusion

Data annotation is a critical part of every business, large or small. Companies and users can benefit from the advantages that data annotation offers and as such it is important for companies to recognise these benefits and move towards structured data. Data annotation projects can seem daunting at first but by calling in the services of a professional data labelling and annotation firm, you can be sure that your data will be structured in a future proof way.