Semantic Web and LinkedData Explained For The Lay Person
W3c semantic web stack (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Semantic Web is beginning to gain steam along with the related (but separate) NoSQL and BigData movements; but what is the Semantic Web (commonly abbreviated “SW”)? The term itself sounds like some uber geek-speak and turns off most people without a technical background and appreciation of web evolution almost immediately after hearing it. However, whether the business world knows it or not, the Semantic Web will be the defining information technology of this decade (2010-2020). Let me start this off with the abridged version for the very impatient, by providing three simple definitions of three key terms RDF, LOD and SW. Sorry, but reading through these three are necessary to be able to understand the core concept of the Semantic Web…
RDF
“Resource Description Framework is a building block technology (like a single lego brick) to enable the Semantic Web to be built”.
LOD
“Linked Open Data is a set of best practices, policies and guidelines for connecting datasets on the Web to make them more Semantic (like the instruction manual for a pack of legos, detailing how to put your bricks together to make them match the image on the box, so that you get what you expected and can then show it off to others and they can understand what you’ve created and how you’ve done it).”
SW
“The Semantic Web is a cross-domain network of data, services and applications built upon the World Wide Web in a particular manner, such that the data, services and applications can be easily interconnected in novel ways (like a big, “constantly updated” encyclopaedia/guidebook of all the cool structures and combinations that have EVER been made with Legos – such as towers, castles, dinosaurs, robots, vehicles, animals, scenes, and just about anything people can dream up)”.
Linked Data and Semantic Web Defined In Detail
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BC$ = Behavior, Content, Money
The goal of the BC$ project is to raise awareness and make changes with respect to the three pillars of information freedom - Behavior (pursuit of interests and passions), Content (sharing/exchanging ideas in various formats), Money (fairness and accessibility) - bringing to light the fact that:
1. We regularly hand over our browser histories, search histories and daily online activities to companies that want our money, or, to benefit from our use of their services with lucrative ad deals or sales of personal information.
2. We create and/or consume interesting content on their services, but we aren't adequately rewarded for our creative efforts or loyalty.
3. We pay money to be connected online (and possibly also over mobile), yet we lose both time and money by allowing companies to market to us with unsolicited advertisements, irrelevant product offers and unfairly structured service pricing plans.