The Semantic Web is a sort of upgrade of the internet, as the semantics of information and services on the web is outlined and defined. This makes it possible for the internet to understand the requests of people and machines who use web based content.
Semantics is the study of meaning within conversation by analysing how the speakers talk to each other and what their speech means. Usually we have to take into account a speaker's expression and their tone of voice in order to understand the full meaning of what it is that they are trying to convey. Obviously this is difficult with written texts, so the semantic web was designed with the purpose of a machine being able to read a text designed for a human. The creator of the programme, Tim Berners-Lee, said that "I have a dream for the Web [in which computers] become capable of analyzing all the data on the Web – the content, links, and transactions between people and computers. A ‘Semantic Web’, which should make this possible, has yet to emerge, but when it does, the day-to-day mechanisms of trade, bureaucracy and our daily lives will be handled by machines talking to machines. The 'intelligent agents' people have touted for ages will finally materialize."
But within this, a crisis emerges. If we create a computer that is able to read human texts, what ramifications for humanity could this have? It is like every science fiction technophobe's worst nightmare.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Nathan,
This is a very good definition of the semantic well - well explained. Do remember to reference all quotes...so the Tim Berniers-Lee should have a reference here. I like the last point you make....absolutely....I think it's quite a scary thing!
All the best
Emma
Post a Comment