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SemWeb: Difference between revisions
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== Ramblings == | == Ramblings == | ||
The Semantic Web is a concept that allows massive, reliable reuse of data. One of the most remarkable things about the Web is it is based on HTML, a text format that is highly accessible by humans and computers. Every Web page uses the same syntax to indicate | The Semantic Web is a concept that allows massive, reliable reuse of data. One of the most remarkable things about the Web is it is based on HTML, a text format that is highly accessible by humans and computers. Every Web page uses the same syntax to indicate what should be displayed, they all use the same retrieval mechanisms. This was a remarkable and unexpected (disruptive) breakthrough in communications, but the way companies jumped in to make the Web more attractive did little to make the exchange of data easier. Efforts over the years have struggled with complexity and standardization, with major initiatives interfering with each other for technical reasons (eg Microformats vs RDFa) or while trying to dominate in the market. | ||
One of the concerns has been the model for how information will be shared. Today it's common for non profit organizations to hoard their information, to create "proprietary databases" they can use to pitch to granting agencies. Another factor is that ignoring standards allows efforts to move ahead on their own terms, without making their systems fit into larger systems which could slow them down. Another factor is insecurity - an organization may have a perfectly useful database, but in implementation it may not compare well to best technical efforts. There are two main requirements - well known mechanism usable by any organization, and the schemas/ontologies, descriptions of how the data will look for reliable re-use. | One of the concerns has been the model for how information will be shared. Today it's common for non profit organizations to hoard their information, to create "proprietary databases" they can use to pitch to granting agencies. Another factor is that ignoring standards allows efforts to move ahead on their own terms, without making their systems fit into larger systems which could slow them down. Another factor is insecurity - an organization may have a perfectly useful database, but in implementation it may not compare well to best technical efforts. There are two main requirements - well known mechanism usable by any organization, and the schemas/ontologies, descriptions of how the data will look for reliable re-use. | ||
Yet, the Internet has been mainstream for 15 years, and we're starting to see real breakthroughs in Semantic Web type applications. With unlimited room for our improvement by building on rather than hoarding data, and the recognition of the value of a true participatory society, many efforts to not share data start to appear ignoble. An unidentified new sector of public participation is developing based on the ease and minimal cost of gathering and organizing data functionality and interested parties on the Internet. The cost is simply making data re-usable, however many agencies fear this approach since it will affect their societal placement (and most don't trust 'the masses'). | |||
== Approaches to Semantic Web applications == | == Approaches to Semantic Web applications == | ||