On Semantic Web: What It Is, And What It Will Never Be

Description

On Semantic Web: What It Is, And What It Will Never Be

Whenever there’s talk about a semantic search engine or the semantic web in general, the term “semantic” is used to describe two quite different, unrelated concepts.

One concept has to do with adding metadata to the structure of the web, which should increase the overall organization of the bulk of data that comprises the Internet, and help machines (search engines, for example) find, share, and combine this data in a way that makes more sense to humans.

The other concept has to do with humans using a language similar to human language when communicating with these machines.

I think that while the first concept is a praiseworthy effort and will probably redefine the web in the years to come, it does not mean we will be able to talk to search engines and other machines (in the broad sense of the word) as we do to humans , nor that we should even try to.

A good example of this dichotomy is Wolfram Alpha. The huge buzz around the “semantic” search engine has people up in arms about how we’ll be able to ask it “intelligent” queries and questions. From the AP story on the subject :

Which has a bigger gross domestic product, Spain or Canada?

What was New York City’s population in 1900?

When did the sun rise in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, 1973?

How far is the moon right now?

If I eat an apple and an orange, how much protein would I get?

Sounds exciting? Not to me. I can already ask Google

these questions. Consider these:

Spain Canada GDP

NYC population 1900

Sunrise Los Angeles

Moon Earth distance

Apple orange nutrition protein

Go ahead, try them out. All of these will ...

Original URL

http://mashable.com/2009/05/14/semantic-web/

http://mashable.com/2009/05/14/semantic-web/