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SemWeb: Difference between revisions
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Yet, the Internet has been mainstream for 15 years, nearly a generation of new and experienced users, programmers, researchers and so on using the most advanced systems available around the world. 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. | Yet, the Internet has been mainstream for 15 years, nearly a generation of new and experienced users, programmers, researchers and so on using the most advanced systems available around the world. 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 (examples below) is developing based on the ease and minimal cost of gathering and organizing data functionality and interested parties on the Internet. This sector | An unidentified new sector of public participation (examples below) is developing based on the ease and minimal cost of gathering and organizing data functionality and interested parties on the Internet. This sector includes individuals, physical communities, and communities of interest, it includes real experts, dedicated hobbyists and the casually interested. They try to solve problems and better understand their world, but they need real data. These groups can work reciprocally with our existing institutions to efficiency fill gaps and build our systems. The cost is simply making data re-usable at the institutional level, however many agencies fear this approach since it will affect their societal placement (and most don't trust 'the masses'). | ||
Another factor holding things back is how we use computers today - for the most part, like a typewriter. Not many people embed data from spreadsheets into their email, use automatic facilities for events and contacts, shared to-do tasks, etc. Documents and communications are one-offs, out of date the moment they're sent, and nothing is explicit in them. A semantic approach to computer data will change all this. Data will be more consistent, and when it comes to important statements we should be able to expect more. | Another factor holding things back is how we use computers today - for the most part, like a typewriter. Not many people embed data from spreadsheets into their email, use automatic facilities for events and contacts, shared to-do tasks, etc. Documents and communications are one-offs, out of date the moment they're sent, and nothing is explicit in them. A semantic approach to computer data will change all this. Data will be more consistent, and when it comes to important statements we should be able to expect more. | ||