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A Semantic Web Primer (Cooperative Information Systems) Review by calvinnme
Excellent and clear technical overview of the semantic web
Thanks to this book I now have new found confidence on the subject of the semantic web. "A semantic Web Primer" takes the reader for a fast trip around the key concepts which underlie the subject and then goes on to help the reader develop an understanding of the key tools and applications which make this technology actually work. The book lays out why expertise in this area is useful very clearly - and in itself this is valuable and very useful.
Chapter One of the book sets out the basic concepts clearly. It explains the need for semantic Web technologies and also explains, with useful examples, exactly how this could work and what we could gain from it in terms of access to relevant, timely and accurate information. The authors set out the role of ontologies in the development of the semantic Web and also emphasize a very practical and evolutionary view of the potential future for the semantic Web. This chapter makes it very clear that we are not dealing with a single technology but with a set of tools and technologies, that these need to be actively taken forward and that they will require integration and development over time to realize the potential that the authors describe.
Chapters 2 through 5 deal with the specific tools and technologies that can take the semantic Web from an abstract idea to a functioning tool, providing a guide to XML, RDF, OWL and rules in the context of the development of the semantic Web. These are not detailed tutorial chapters and the authors point to a set of resources for very specific and detailed knowledge on all of these areas for those who want or need them.
Chapter 6 gives some examples of the use of semantic Web technologies - primarily in data integration - as well as charting out a few key areas where the authors believe that impacts can and will be made in the medium term. The examples are well chosen and the chapter provides a convincing case for the development of the technologies and techniques in these areas, while acknowledging that there is a long way to go before the state of the art advances to the point where the benefits will be realized on any large scale.
Chapter 7 provides a practical guide to the development of ontologies and also provides a guide to resources which can be used to help the reader actually develop an ontology for a given area. A practical task is given at the end of the chapter which should form the basis of a useful project for anyone who wants to get hands-on experience with the concepts and available tools. Actually, this book has exercises and smaller projects at the end of each chapter.
Chapter 8 effectively poses the question 'Where next?' - but doesn't answer it in any detail. Instead, the chapter presents a brief guide to the issues which need to be resolved and expresses the view that the semantic Web will form a part of our future development of the World Wide Web.
In summary this is a useful guide and a source of some much needed clarification on the semantic Web. The authors successfully describe the main concepts and provide a guide to the key tools and technologies. They emphasize the range of technologies and the need for successful integration of them. They also emphasize the complexity of overall development in the semantic web and the need for active involvement and development if we are to see this ambitious development succeed.
Amazon does not show the table of contents so I do that here:
1 THE SEMANTIC WEB VISION 1
Today's Web; From Today's Web to the Semantic Web: Examples; Semantic Web Technologies; A Layered Approach; Book Overview; Summary; Suggested Reading;
2 STRUCTURED WEB DOCUMENTS IN XML 23
Introduction; The XML Language; Structuring; Namespaces; Addressing and Querying XML Documents; Processing; Summary; Suggested Reading; Exercises and Projects;
3 DESCRIBING WEB RESOURCES RDF 61
Introduction; RDF: Basic Ideas; RDF: XML-Based Syntax; RDF Schema: Basic Ideas; RDF Schema: The Language; RDF and RDF Schema in RDF Schema; An Axiomatic Semantics for RDF and RDF Schema; A Direct Inference System for RDF and RDFS; Querying in RQL; Summary; Suggested Reading; Exercises and Projects;
4 WEB ONTOLOGY LANGUAGE: OWL 109
Introduction; The OWL Language; Examples; OWL in OWL; Future Extensions; Summary; Suggested Reading; Exercises and Projects;
5 LOGIC AND INFERENCE: Rules 151
Introduction; Example of Monotonic Rules: Family Relationships; Monotonic Rules: Syntax; Monotonic Rules: Semantics; Nonmonotonic Rules: Motivation and Syntax; Example of Nonmonotonic Rules: Brokered Trade; Rule Markup in XML: Monotonic Rules; Rule Markup in XML: Nonmonotonic Rules; Summary; Suggested Reading; Exercises and Projects;
6 APPLICATIONS 179
Introduction; Horizontal Information Products at Elsevier; Data Integration at Audi; Skill Finding at Swiss Life; Think Tank Portal at EnerSearch; e-Learning; Web Services; Other Scenarios; Suggested Reading;
7 ONTOLOGY ENGINEERING 205
Introduction; Constructing Ontologies Manually; Reusing Existing Ontologies; Using Semiautomatic Methods; On-To-Knowledge Semantic Web Architecture; Suggested Reading; Project;
8 CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK 223
How It All Fits Together; Some Technical Questions; Predicting the Future;
Appendix Abstract OWL syntax 227
Index 235