xml-dev - RE: Semantic Web "Definition"

["Bullard, Claude L (Len)" <clbullar@ingr.com>]

Thus far the semantic web is the application of semantic 
network technologies to the problems of discovery and 
association of resources.  Semantic networks evolved 
from late sixties research into case grammars.  This is 
not ambiguous or fuzzy.  It describes a meta-data 
service to which other services can be routed to 
aid in classification and pattern recognition tasks 
involving text-based conceptual descriptions.

The debate on the meaning of the term is intense 
given the importance and source of such assertions as 
"the semantic web is the future of the www".  Such 
assertions must be evaluated critically to determine 
if they have short and long term impact on the implementation 
of the services paradigm for Internet resources.  Requirements 
such as "describing every possible aspect of your data" 
are impossible to meet and will not be considered 
seriously.  Experienced professionals in the AI field 
can quickly tell you such requirements can be described 
as a Stone of Sisyphus for the project teams.  At best, 
there will be a statistical mix of definitional 
accuracy.  Routing among semantic network services 
will be based on the quality and accuracy, typically, 
mission-centric requirements.

The nebulousness of the term "semantic web" leaves a 
lot to be desired if one is trying to write hard 
requirements for scheduled projects.   A precise 
description of a meta-data service based on sharing 
RDF documents has a better chance of being taken 
seriously.

Len 
http://www.mp3.com/LenBullard

Ekam sat.h, Vipraah bahudhaa vadanti.
Daamyata. Datta. Dayadhvam.h


-----Original Message-----
From: Sean B. Palmer [mailto:sean@mysterylights.com]

The Semantic Web describes the SW as "a web of data that can be processed
directly or
indirectly by machines". The SW is a self describing
machine processble web of extensible dynamic information; a huge logic based
database of Semantically marked up information, ready for output and
processing. 

The SW will be a Web of metadata, so you had better get used
to describing every possible aspect of your data, or get an editor to do it
for you!