Terminology Guide
An explanation of the terms and concepts used across the Fernelwick platform and website
Why This Guide Exists
The Fernelwick website and platform use a number of terms that have specific meanings within the context of an information-organisation system. Some of these terms are used in everyday language with different or broader meanings. This guide explains how each term is understood and applied within the Fernelwick context.
Reading this guide is recommended for users who are preparing to submit an access request, as it helps set accurate expectations about what the platform provides.
Classification
In the Fernelwick context, classification refers to the process of assigning an item of information to one or more categories within the platform's framework. This is done automatically during the initial processing stage, using AI-assisted logic to identify the most relevant category or categories for each item.
Classification does not involve editing, correcting, or enriching the information. It assigns a structural position within the organised framework. The category assigned is based on the attributes present in the information as received.
Category
A category is a defined group within the classification framework. Each category has a set of attributes that are relevant to it. Items classified into a category share at least some of those attributes, which is what makes them comparable within the review interface.
The set of categories available in the platform reflects the current configuration of the classification framework. Categories are not fixed permanently; they may change as the platform's scope develops.
Attribute
An attribute is a specific characteristic of an item that is recorded during the classification process. Attributes vary by category: different categories capture different types of information about the items within them. The attributes visible in the review interface are the ones considered most relevant to that category.
Not every possible attribute of an item is captured. The classification system records only those attributes that are defined within the current framework. Information that falls outside the defined attributes may not be visible through the interface.
Review Interface
The review interface is the environment through which users with access arrangements examine classified information. It presents items in an organised layout, grouped by category, with consistent attribute fields displayed for each item.
The review interface is a viewing environment, not an editing environment. Users cannot alter the classification or attributes of items through the interface. If a user believes an item has been incorrectly classified, they may raise this through the support enquiry process.
Aggregate View
An aggregate view presents a summary of how items within a category are distributed across a particular attribute value. For example, an aggregate view might show how items in a category are distributed across a set of defined attribute states.
Aggregate views are descriptive: they reflect the current composition of classified items in the system. They are not forecasts, recommendations, or signals of any kind. The accuracy of an aggregate view depends on the completeness and currency of the classified items it covers.
Pending State
An item is described as being in a pending state when it has been received by the system but has not yet been successfully assigned to a category. Items enter this state when the AI-assisted classification logic cannot identify a reliable category match based on the available attributes.
Items in a pending state are not visible through the standard review interface. They may be reclassified once additional context becomes available, or they may remain unclassified if no suitable category exists within the current framework.
Access Arrangement
An access arrangement is the agreement, communicated in writing by the Fernelwick support team, that permits a user to view information through the review interface. Access arrangements are established following a review of the user's enquiry. They are specific to the user and may include conditions on how the information may be used.
An access arrangement does not arise automatically from submitting an enquiry. It results from the support team's assessment and written confirmation.
AI-Assisted
Within the Fernelwick context, "AI-assisted" means that automated computational methods are applied during the classification process to support the assignment of items to categories. This does not imply that the process is fully automated in all cases or that AI methods are applied to other aspects of the platform such as review interface presentation or enquiry handling.
The term is used to describe the classification stage specifically. It does not represent a claim about the sophistication, reliability, or independence of any particular algorithm. Users should not interpret "AI-assisted" as a guarantee of accuracy or objectivity in the classification output.
Support Team
The support team refers to the personnel at Fernelwick Solutions Limited who manage enquiries, access requests, and ongoing user support. The team can be contacted through the enquiries form on this website or directly by email at [email protected].
The support team is not available through the review interface itself. All communications with the team occur outside the interface, through the contact channels listed on the enquiries page.