Semantic Search and the Web

Semantic search uses the science of meaning in language—instead of just searching keywords, it checks the context of the words to return more relevant results. Brooke Aker, CEO of Expert System USA, predicts that it will usher in the era of Web 3.0.

Are We There Yet ? Not Quite But Soon

The Prosumer and the advent of consumer generated content are encroaching on us (in a good way) now get ready for more evidence of its presence via Big Stage's beta.

Business Intelligence - How Can It Evolve ?

Access to and the use of appropriate information is fundamental to enhancing an organizations productivity. Consider that 30% of a manager's time is spent collecting information and 43% of managers agree that the inability to understand what information is relevant delays decision making. The fundamental problem is that most systems are still constructed around the notion of a database not on how the human brain needs to have information presented nor how business process is implemented - thoughtfully and consistently. This is further complicated by the lack of friendly User Interfaces which limit the manner within which visualization and interactivity are enabled. See this two minute talk by Visual I/O chief executive Angela Shen-Hsieh as she explains these concepts eloquently.

The Semantic Web - Get Your Head Around It and Soon

The Semantic Web is proving itself as a commercially competitive technology. One that will begin to unlock vast strategic leverage for organizations wise enough to understand, grasp and adopt its capabilities. Read David Provost's recent report titled "On The Cusp A Global Review of the Semantic Web Industry". Also, see David's thesis at MIT on Hurdles in the Business Case for the Semantic Web. Few are as familiar with the implications of the Semantic Web as David Provost. Read his work and begin to wonder, "How will this technology revolutionize the world?"

What is the Semantic Web ?

The next wave of web trends portends what many term web 3.0 or the "semantic web". But what is it exact;y and what does it mean ? Well not everyone is certain - even the experts.  Different people think it means different things. Generally, semantic web technologies focus on processing metadata. The metadata is processed using ontologies. Ontologies define the relationships, the rules and the logic that apply to the metadata.

Using Semantic Web technologies, metadata is given a well-defined meaning enabling computers to process higher-level “knowledge” about the data.

For example, the statement "John is the son of William" if defined in a genealogical ontology would allow the system to infer an additional relationship - William is the father of John. what results is an increasing ability for machine to turn content into meaning and thus being able to perform for the user functions that are more highly tuned to the needs of users, based on their behaviors.

For those still having trouble with the Semantic Web concept, think of  the world's databases turned inside out and exposed for all others to explore, extend and remix: the hooks and loops of a loosely connected "semantic" velcro, thus enabling the "machine" to deliver experience better and more functionally for the user. It means figuring out how to make all that data more easy to understand and interpret - unlocking power and relevance of the web to a higher level with good and potentially terrifying implications.

For expert interpretation of web 3.0 trends please see Sir Tim Berner Lee's conversation on the semantic web below: