Introduction
to the Semantic Web
Presented by: Suellen Stringer-Hye, Systems Librarian for Public
Services, Vanderbilt University
Libraries have long been storing and classifying the record of
the world's shared knowledge for efficient retrieval. The web,
in many ways, has become an extension of the library but without
the structures that make optimized retrieval possible. Additionally
it is not possible to employ
traditional methods of classifying knowledge to the large sets
of data and information now being generated electronically. The
World Wide Web, in order to be truly useful, must adapt techniques
used by libraries for centuries, as well as rely on new technologies
not yet fully developed. This presentation will provide an overview
of the range of technological solutions currently under consideration
for the building of the "Semantic Web"--- a web maximized
for information and knowledge storage and retrieval.
9:00
am - 10:30 am: Blue Track - Semantic Web Technical
Where is the Sematics in the Semantic Web
Presented by: Michael Uschold, Research Scientist, The Boeing
Company
The most widely accepted defining feature of the Semantic Web
is machine-usable content. By this definition, the Semantic Web
is already manifest in shopping agents that automatically access
and use Web content to find the lowest air fares, or book prices.
But where are the semantics? Most people regard the Semantic Web
as a vision, not a reality-so shopping agents should not “count”.
To use Web content, machines need to know what to do when they
encounter it. This in turn, requires the machine to “know” what
the content means (i.e. its semantics). The challenge of developing
the Semantic Web is how to put this knowledge into the machine.
The manner in which this is done is at the heart of the confusion
about the Semantic Web. The goal of this talk is to clear up some
of this confusion.
DAML
and RDF Topic Maps
Presented by: Nikita Ogievetsky, President, Cogitech, Inc.
This presentation will discuss how RDF Topic Maps (RTM) can be
combined with DAML to facilitate expressiveness of topic subjects.
In addition, how DAML can be combined with RTM to facilitate federation
of notions and exchange of knowledge.
9:00
am - 10:30 am: Gold Track - Tools and Services
The empolis Knowledge
Suite - A Unique Combination of Unique Tools
Presented by: H. Holger Rath, Director R&D, empolis GmbH
Knowledge Management has many flavors,
but access to information is key and can be achieved by searching
or by navigating. The empolis Knowledge Suite offers an intelligent
find technology including topic map knowledge navigation and AI-driven
searching. Learn more in this session.
The Omnivore: Knowledge Interchange using Topic
Maps in Arbitrary Syntaxes
Presented by: Sam Hunting, CEO, eTopicality, Inc.
This presentatin will discuss how first, developers, particularly
those who have needs that XTM or 13250 syntax can't satisfy, or
satisfy in a subtopimal fashion, but who still wish to use the
topic map paradigm. Second, information owners who need to understand
or prove to themselves that information they have can be represented
as a topic map, without necessarily being convered to XTM or 13250
syntax. Third, topic map experts who need to understand how several
interchange syntaxes can be represented by the same data model.
Fourth, knowledge managers who are looking for ways to interchange
knowledge using their current syntaxes.
11:00
am - 12:30 pm: Knowlege Communities Panel
The
technology of knowledge management is springing up from the work
of many communities. Some, like the library community, have had
a long history of professional practice before the coming of computing
technology. The artificial-intelligence community has a record
of several decades of academic study and proprietary product development.
The rise of the Internet and XML-based products has opened the
possibilities for both new communities of knowledge practitioners-and
vast potentials for new users of knowledge-based applications.
The panel will look at the multiple communities that now are converging
around new opportunities.
Moderator:
Eric Freese, Chair, TopicMaps.org
Panelists:
