Understanding the Semantic Web

The Semantic Web is a term used to describe an effort by TBL's W3C to put data inherent to our digital world into a mutually-understood machine-readable format. This refers also to data which describes offline physical-world objects like buildings, cars, things, lands, and people. Using metadata, a fully realized Semantic web would provide for mutually-understood, machine readable 'handbooks' to be embedded in our web pages, graphical images, databases, discussion posts, and software applications, and so on. This would allow machines, as well as search engines and hyperlinks, to follow cues that define the relationship between one object and another and, effectively, to understand the context of a particular operation. The Semantic Web intends to add a layer of meaning to the globs of data that only humans can understand (when they see it presented in context). The meaning of this data, in context, can be extracted, reliably acted upon and, by adding logic, enable machines to make decisions dynamically and independently. Here is an illustration that will help to explain the slow upgrade process.

The implications of such a system seem boundless! Surely it would enable rich application integration. It could even result in another evolutionary phase in networking - creating TBL's vision of a web of shared knowledge - search engines that can answer complex questions accurately and in context, hypermedia resembling Ted Nelson's original vision of transclusion, machines working on our behalf making dynamic decisions. The world would be our orchestra and each of us a composer conducting a symphony of rich ideas and artistry. In the wrong hands it might also have devastating effects.

RDF, an important technical underpinning of the Semantic Web, has been around for some time now and, in practice, has not made great strides toward this goal. It remains to be seen whether this sluggishness can be attributed to the temporary birthing pains of launching a network effect that will eventually trigger widespread value in and use for Semantic Web applications, or if the sophisticated design is significantly challenged.