beyond algorithms: search and the semantic web

Future of search from the perspective of semantics. Using the data on the web began with search (literal match), evolved to specific/contextual answers to specific questions, and could move on to asking the web to do something for you more than just answer questions.

Should we drop the term “Semantic Web” and replace it with “Computable Web”?

[ session description ]

Presenter(s)
(lots)
Date
14 March 2010
Tag(s)
#beyondalgorithms

The semantic web connects literal semantics with intent/knowledge. The idea is to build systems that can understand user requests with natural language and connect people to the “rest of the stuff”.

“For the first time, computers are starting to ‘understand’ what people are asking them to do… and the context surrounding the information” … in a super-literal / abstracted way. How do you use the entire breadth of knowledge, data, and facts to solve people’s problems?

What’s next

Presentation Engine – Google does a great job of understanding what I’m asking, but the presentation of the answers (long list) is not optimal. Aggregation and post-processing search results to make the results more useful to humans. Exact/pure answers with option to dig deeper. The result presentation should match the question/circumstance/context.

Command Engine – It’s no longer about information retrieval with a universal search box. The computer should understand what you are trying to do. Search is one type of command, what are other kinds of commands you can ask “the web” to do? Fully complete the task. Guide me through the contextual tasks. Relative task completion/guidance and get to know me (social networks the key to getting to know me?). Databases with APIs are starting to work together to let this happen.

Discovery Engine – Less searching and more proactive push of relevant information. This requires the ability to extract entities from data.