Monday, January 07, 2008

Pragmatic Web as HD TV

The Pragmatic Web: A Manifesto makes a return to simplification. For all the hype about Web 3.0, we've still seen very little substantial evidence that it exists. Schoop, De Moor, and Dietz proposes a "Pragmatic Web" as a solution which does not replace the current web but rather, extend the Semantic Web.

Rather than waiting for everyone to come together and collaborate -- that could take forever or worse yet . . . never -- the best hope might be to encourage the emergence of communities of interest and practice that develop their own consensus knowledge on the basis of which they will standardize their representations. Thus, the vision of the Pragmatic Web is to augment human collaboration effectively by appropriate technologies. Thus, the Pragmatic Web complements the Semantic Web by improving the quality and legitimacy of collaborative, goal-oriented discourses in communities.

I liken this scenario to High-definition Television. By 2010, the majority of programming in North America will move to HDTV specifications, thus effectively removing other TV formats such as plasma TV's from competition. In the meantime, consumers are free to continue using their existing TV sets. The Web could very well employ this model, as it's logical and crosses the path of least damage. Using the HD TV scenario, Web users can continue using their current browsers and existing ways of surfing while those who want to maximize the full potential of the Web will use Semantic Web browsers (e.g. Piggy Bank) that are designed specifically to utilize the portion of the Web that is "Semantic Web-compliant."

Meanwhile, in the background, semantic annotation will be slowly integrated into Web pages, programs, and services. As time progresses, users will eventually catch onto the "rave" that is the Semantic Web . . .

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Allan,

I've read your most recent post, scanned your earlier posts, and subscribed to your blog as an RSS feed. I'll try to come up to speed with regard to your thinking over the next few weeks.

My interest derives from two sources. Primarily, I find what you write interesting because I am assisting in the marketing of a new web tool - www.truethinker.com - that incorporates (Semantic) AI into its current version, but that will quickly evolve to incorporate Pragmatic AI elements.

You can look at TrueThinker, and use it, free for 30 days. If you would like to extend your review, let me know.

My secondary interest is that my business partner and I are currently helping a non-profit - Western New York Library Resources Council - with its 2008 marketing planning. So I am interested in your thoughts about AI in the library environment.

Regards,
Paul McAfee