Classification of Digital Content, Media, and Device Types

The content we ingest, whether by way of information, communication, or entertainment, is increasingly digital content, appearing as digital media and requiring the mediation of digital devices.   The on-going emergence of new digital media and devices is anticipated, making the stability of their organization uncertain, unless we can devise a faceted approach capable of accommodating future developments.  The paper presents a complex and hospitable facet analysis for digital media based on the functions of generation, representation, distribution, and use.  For digital devices, a simpler facet analysis emerges, with a primary split between general-purpose devices and task-specific devices; the latter set of devices classes with the task.  The Dewey Decimal Classification system is used throughout as a case study.