clsc555 webliography

CLSC 555 INFORMATION SYSTEMS WEBLIOGRAPHY: THE SEMANTIC WEB
by
Stephanie Salmon

| Concept | Programming | Applications |

Semantic Web Concept
- XML.com: Building the Semantic Web
  by Edd Dumbill, XML.com
  This article gives an introduction to the concept of the Semantic Web which, to put it very simply, would use programming to locate relationships between content on the web. It discusses the characteristics needed for successful implementation and difficulties inherant in attempting to revamp the Web. A good introductory article that is easy to follow.
- Semantic Web Roadmap
  by Tim Berners-Lee
  Tim Berners-Lee is considered the architect of the Semantic Web and this paper, written in 1998, outlines his vision for for the future. While the paper can be difficult to follow for those without a technology background, it does introduce most of the concepts used in relation to the Semantic Web. This is an important article to read since many other sites reference the roadmap.
- The Semantic Web: A Primer
  by Edd Dumbill, XML.com
  This article, also by Edd Dumbill, gives an overview of the various technologies used to design the Semantic Web as well as examples of applications, such as Mozilla and RSS. The article is not overly technical and introduces some of the programming languages is an easy to follow manner, however since the article was written in 2000 some of the programming information is out of date.
- Semantic Web Activity Statement
  by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
  An excellent portal which not only outlines W3C's involvement in the Semantic Web but also provides numerous links to sites dealing with standards, programming languages, education and outreach, and current activity. W3C is actively involved in the development of SW standards and technologies and this site should be checked often for updates. W3C sites can be intimidating because of the amount of information and links offered on each page, but for the most part they are easy to navigate.
- Something Useful This Way Comes
  by Kendall Grant Clark, XML.com
  Kendall Clark outlines the present state of the Semantic Web and the discussion of whether or not it is living up to its promises. This article focuses on RDF vs. XML as the language for the SW so it may be helpful to read the programming articles before attempting this one. But it is an interesting look at the state of development so far and has a number of useful links embedded in the article.
Semantic Web Programming
- XML.com Resource Guide
  by XML.com
  A well organized portal with dozens of useful sites. Here you can find information on XML(Extensible Markup Language) progamming, tutorials, vendors, as well information on many other languages. Web sites, pages, and articles range from very basic to extremely complex. An excellent place to go for further exploration into the Semantic Web.
- XML Beginner's Guide
  by XML.org
  A basic guide to XML progamming, including a tutorial and FAQ's. This page is on the XML.org site, which has extensive links to all sorts of XML related pages. The home page is overwhelming at first but the navigational menu on the left makes it relatively easy to find topics of interest.
- XML.com: What is RDF?
  by Tim Bray
  An excellent introduction to RDF (Resource Descripton Framework) using real world analogies to explain the concept of the language. Easy to understand, even for technophobes. The article goes on to explain the differences between RDF and XML and provides links for a more in-depth look at RDF.
- Owl Web Ontology Language Overview
  by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
  W3C's overview of the OWL programming language. This site outlines the importance of OWL to the Semantic Web as well as its relationship to other Semantic Web languages (XML and RDF). This site is more complex and seems to be designed for developers and others with a more technical background. However, it is useful for explaining why different programming languages are useful in representing the layers of the Semantic Web.
Semantic Web Applications
- XML.com: Commercializing the Semantic Web
  by Kendall Grant Clark
  In this article Clark examines how corporations are using the Semantic Web. He provides valuable links to companies working in the field and mentions the reluctance of some groups to use the phrase "Semantic Web". It's worth reading to understand the impact of corporations on this developing technology.
- My Yahoo!- Featuring RSS
  by Yahoo.com
  Yahoo now offers users the opportunity to customize their my yahoo page with RSS feeds. This page offers a simple introduction to RSS technology which illustrates one of the directions the Semantic Web will take. This is an excellent example of how technologies can make the web more user friendly and can deliver content more effectively.
- Resources Description Framework
  by Mozilla Org.
  This page describes the used of RDF in Firefox 1.0, Mozilla's latest browser release, which has been downloaded more than 2,000,000 times since its release. This page contains links that range from very simple (RDF in 50 words or less) to highly technical (aimed at developers). It's worth looking at the Mozilla Organization's website to see how XML and RDF are being applied in everyday applications.
- Swoogle
  by University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  The Swoogle search engine is a research project at the Univeriisty of Maryland, Baltimore County. The engine retrieves RDF and OWL documents and looks for relationships between them. The site contains a useful "about" page which explains how Swoogle works and there is also a tutorial available on the site. An interesting look at the possible future of search engines.
- Magpie - a tool for Semantic Web
  by Knowledge Media Institute, The Open University
  This is a tool developed by the Open University in the UK which is downloaded into an Internet browser and then applies Semantic Web technology to searches. While the narrative of the site is somewhat confusing the movies available for download demonstrate how Magpie would work. Magpie may be a useful way to incorporate Semantic Web concepts into pre-existing sites.
- Annotea shared bookmarks: Semantic Web at your fingertips
  by Marja-Riitta Koivunen
  This is a demo from the 3rd International Semantic Web Conference (ISWC2004). It describes the Annotea shared bookmark toolbar and details the usefulness of being able to annotate and share bookmarks over a network. The demo contains screen shots and links to downloads.
- Amblit Technologies, Home of Amblit Navigator
  by Amblit Technologies
  A Semantic Web search engine that is available for lease. The site describes the utility of this type of search engine in the corporate world and there is a movie available for download which demonstrates how the search engine works. The site is easy to understand and is designed to show the technology in one of its most useful manifestations.