Introduction- 1

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CmpE 583- Web Semantics Theory and Practice

• Atilla ELÇI
• Computer Engineering Department
• Eastern Mediterranean University

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Introduction

• The study of semantic Web has been immensely
  important due to tremendous increase in Web-based
  applications, media and publication in general.
• Students of our degree programs need to be
  introduced to recent developments, standards and
  research in this evolving broad area.
• Thus, this course aims to introduce and expose
  the state of affairs in Web Semantics.

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Agenda

• Course description
• Introduction to Web Semantics
• Succession of topics.

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Course Description

• Objective
• Define Web Ssemantics
• Review semantic Web technology
• Break into research areas.
• Outline XML, RDF, OWL, WS.
• For further detail Web site at 583 Course Site.

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Introduction to Web Semantics

• WWW content is for human consumption.
• The Semantic Web
• Encompasses efforts to create mechanisms that
  augment content with formal semantics, thereby
  producing content suitable for automated systems
  (such as intelligent agents) to consume.
• Represents a departure from the current
  "rendering-oriented" Web.
• Is an extension of the current WWW and not a
  separate Web. Ref. Nokia-96
• Is for achieving a set of connected applications
  for data on the Web in such a way as to form a
  consistant logical web of data. Ref. TBL-98

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Intro to Web Semantics (continued)

• The Semantic Web will allow
• Use of more automated functions on the Web, such
  as
• Knowledge management
• Reasoning,
• Service discovery,
• Service composition,
• Workflow and process management,
• Etc. easing the workload of humans.
• Ease information handling
• Semantic-based discovery,
• Gathering of context-sensitive info,
• Situation awareness
• Presentation device independence and
  customization
• Creation of info with context.

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Intro to Web Semantics (continued)

• The Semantic Web says, "Let's get the data on the
  Web with its meaning.
• This is a whole new general infrastructure.
• In 20 years, People will talk about the Web in
  the same way that they talk about paper. They
  won't be discussing it as a phenomenon they will
  just assume it. TBL-2000

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Semantic Web- Layers of AbstractionMachine-Unders
tandable Information Ref. TBL-98

• The basic assertion model layer Resource
  Description Framework
• RDF for Assertions and quotations.
• The schema layer RDF Schema for forms
  compliance.
• Conversion language for doc conversion from one
  RDF schema to another.
• The logical layer expressing rules of
  processing.
• Language for proof proof validation
• Inference rules language
• Query languages
• Digital signature
• Engines of the future.

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Succession of topics.

• Terminology vocabulary of Web semantics
• Semantic Web principles and practice
• XML and processing
• RDF syntax, query, standards
• Web ontology OWL
• Web rules
• Web syndication WS, RSS, ...
• Semantic Grid systems
• Case studies, and
• Future directions.

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Vocabulary

• Glossary of terms
• Define the terms as used in this subject

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Where to Get More Information

• Nokia http//www.nokia.com/nokia/0,,5176,00.html
  
• Local copy
• TBL-98 Tim Berners-Lee The Semantic Web
  Roadmap, W3C Draft Document, Sep. 1998.
• TBL-2000 Newsweek interview with Tim
  Berners-Lee The "Semantic Web", in Newsweek,
  Oct. 30, 2000 issue.
• WWW Consortium www.w3.org
• Semantic Web Services Initiative (SWSI)
• SemanticWeb.org
• Elsevier Journal of Web Semantics