The final vision (as described later) is to create a network of all Objects possible.
How a semantic Web actually functions?
At functional level, Semantic Web names every concept or object, by a Universal Resource Identifier (URI).
A Universal Resource Identifier (URI), identifies subject and object on semantic web. Thereupon the two important technologies for developing Semantic Web come into play: Xtensible Markup Language (XML) and Resource Description Framework (RDF).
XML is critical here, as it helps to create ones own tags. These tags then are made use of by scripts or call it programs, in many sophisticated ways. However, the scriptwriter must know what the page writer uses each tag for. In general, XML helps users to add arbitrary structure to their documents but does not inform about the meaning part.
The meaning of the defined object is taken care of, by RDF, that encodes in sets of triples. Each triple is like the subject, verb and object of an elementary sentence. They define object properties in this format. These triples can also be written using XML tags. In RDF, a document makes affirmations that a particular thing have properties a & b with certain values x or y.
Another basic component of Semantic Web are aggregates of information or what we call ontology’s. Web researchers borrowed the term ontology from philosophy and related it to document or file that formally defines relations among terms. A typical ontology for Web consists of a taxonomy (classes of objects) and set of inference rules(the objects manipulative grammar).
It is through exchange of ontology that data consumer and data producer agents reach a shared understanding and provide the vocabulary needed for a meaningful discussion. In fact agents may even cobble together new reasoning capabilities when they come across new ontology’s. This will have huge implication on the future utility of the semantic web.
The Semantic Future:
Lets take a step back to be able to look into the future.
As of now, we have web sites(with URLS, a form of URIs ) which have information displayed on them in HTML format. Then there are proprietary databases like LexusNexus or NASA or Library of Congress. To search & connect to the first set of information, you have search engines helping you. To access the second set you have to have authorizations.
So in essence this digital datascape is disparate & disjointed.
To be able to create knowledge out of such a structure you require a Human Being.
S/He will need to find access to all the information & then piece them together ( by his/her cognitive & deductive logic). This effort of synthesis & analysis creates, what we call, knowledge.
Now semantic web does three simple things in such a scenario:
First it defines a simple yet flexible common language for defining objects( any thing can be an object).
Second it provides a framework to define rules for the objects as defined in step 1.
Third it specifies relations that will let different objects & their rules interact with each other & act meaningfully.
Lets see how these three simple steps will revolutionize our ‘ current worldview’.
By being able to define anything as an object (with set rules or properties, if you may) the semantic web will ultimately break out from our computers into our physical world. It will obliterate the online & offline world boundary. This is because, even real world objects can now be defined as objects, provided one defines their properties correctly. The CD player can be an object, a song can be an object, a tune snippet can be an object, a note can be an object or else the radio station can be an object….
Now when we create the ontologies( relationships rules) we are wiring everything together at a very fundamental level. This implies, parts (of anything & everything) that had been operating independently, will be able to inter-connect forming a local network of rules. Such local networks will bond to create non local networks which in turn will coalesce to create global network . Sounds like current WWW. Doesn’t it? But the big difference will be, that this network will not be of just computers & databases, but also of all physical/virtual products as well (uniquely defined).
Thus semantic web will have digital, physical, virtual objects connected together by a set of rules.
The biggest advantage of this landscape will be that we will be able to manipulate these objects, by writing appropriate machine readable software codes ( based on those rules). Thus machines ( personal or enterprise, agents) on semantic web will create & process actionable information. Human intervention will be required only for non regular actions or for doing high end intellectual work.
Another clear & sustainable advantage, will be ‘knowledge creation’ by machines in ways which are unimaginable at present. That these machines will be ‘talking’ to each other, will lead to, synthesis of information, on a gigantic scale. Who knows, on that scale, dream analysis & astronomy might be linked with some inductive logic, which semantic web might discover.
To have a snapshot of future semantic life, picture this :
Say you are driving from London to Glasgow in your new car which is on the semantic web( connected by rules).
Your car will communicate with semantic road directory service (CRDS) to understand the route to Glasgow. Then it will start on its journey at a preferable 50 miles per hour speed. It will communicate with semantic traffic database (STB) to find out if there are any traffic bottlenecks ( physical clogging of semantic network) or if it needs to take a detour. If a detour is needed again the road directory service (RDS) will be consulted. Moving on, after around 50 miles its finds that it is low on gas. Again RDS will be consulted to spot a semantic gas station within a preset 3 miles
Driving itself to this station your car will refuel itself through the automatic car fuel injector (ACFI). It will pay its bill by a bank transfer from your semantic account to the gas stations semantic account & move on. The AC of the car will keep itself to a cool 20 C & will switch off when it espies low fuel condition. The stereo will, in the meanwhile continue playing the Beatles number ( yes it will play ‘Love me do’ twice ) & then suddenly it discovers that an unplugged version of ‘Imagine’, by John Lennon has been released on the semantic web by the recording company. The song will be download from a free music service & played for you.
On the way, your car will order a Ham Burger for you, after a preset 1 hour, in London central order system of Macdonalds & will collect it using the RDS again from the nearest Mac.
So what are you doing all this while, when everything else is getting done automatically.
Reading a book, ‘Beatles US Tour’ on your personal semantic agent, directly from a semantic library.
You can also, of course, stop the car ‘manually’ & get down for a ‘physical smoke’ .
The future, it seems, has finally found us.
|
