Please note that this is my old blog, to My New Blog is available at https://www.vanirsystems.com/blog
This blog is kept here for archival reasons as it has a lot of interesting old posts that I am sure people would find useful
I have to say, I am very impressed by the online news & events system called Silobreaker. I particularly like the network graphs.
Have a look at the Search for “Semantic Web” on Silobreaker.
I don’t think the system contains any Semantic Web stuff in their Silobreaker technology stack… which might be a good addition.
An often overlooked component of OpenLink Data Spaces is the Briefcase application, but its incredibly clever!
It allows you to connect and browse file space and upload files, but its a lot more than this…
When you upload a file:
It extracts metadata and other key information:
And you can tag the file (which will use SKOS, SCOT and MOAT):
And of course, this is all available as RDF, and can be cURLed on command line:
curl -H "Accept: application/rdf+xml" https://<virtuoso-server>/dataspace/danieljohnlewis/briefcase/Daniel%27s%20Briefcase
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="https://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rdfs="https://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#">
<rdf:Description rdf:about="https://<virtuoso-server>/dataspace/danieljohnlewis/briefcase/Daniel%27s%20Briefcase">
...
</rdf:Description></rdf:RDF>
and therefore is ready for machine reading (including SPARQL queries).
p.s. Uploading files can also be done using WebDAV, and metadata extraction will still occur.
-
Update:
I forgot to mention, you can do this on any installation of OpenLink Data Spaces.. including:
Something quite amazing is going on, it goes beyond the goodness of any religion or creed, and I saw it in action today in Oxford City Centre.
Its the Free Hugs Campaign, which is a campaign where people out of pure selfless kindness offer hugs (aka cuddles) as a method of support to anyone who approaches. Its truly amazing, as the hugs benefit not only the participants but also the onlookers, who will smile or laugh. Its not only adds support, but its increases happiness. Its a great form of altruism.
Its great because its completely non-religious, but morally altruistic… it does also fulfill so many religious teachings of loving and caring for everybody. I might take part in the future, as its definitely worthwhile.
I am amazed, and very very happy that this movement is happening… maybe there is hope for humanity after all.
Document Web Links
Just read “Twine and Linked Data on the Semantic Web“, a blog post by Nova Spivack.
He says that Twine has a SPARQL endpoint, it’s just not open yet. He also says that it is able to consume Linked Data.
This is all good, however, even though it’s stated in the Twine Semantic Tour, application/rdf+xml fetching (using cURL) doesn’t work from command line:
curl -H "Accept: application/rdf+xml" https://www.twine.com/item/1sj51123-2g5
<html>
...
Now this comes up because of Unauthorised access, which is a real pain!
If you have logged in to Twine Beta then you can access the RDF from browser by going to: https://www.twine.com/item/1sj51123-2g5?rdf=
But I don’t really want to do that…. so my suggestion:
Make it entirely Linked Data compliant:
1. Use URIs as names for things
2. Use HTTP URIs so that people can look up those names.
3. When someone looks up a URI, provide useful information.
4. Include links to other URIs. so that they can discover more things.
(Quote from “Linked Data - Design Issues” by Tim Berners-Lee)
With Twine, if it were downloadable the database backend could then be powered by ODBC… allowing it to connect to any database management system including: MySQL, PostgreSQL or even the mighty OpenLink Virtuoso Universal Server.
More information is available about the awesome open-source platform-independent implementation of ODBC and X/Open specifications called iODBC.
Nova, remember: be open, use existing ontologies, link out, link in, take advantage of HTTP, and finally be meaningful!
This is the way to gain full benefit of the Linked Data web, and gain respect from users and developers of the Linked Data web. Interconnectedness is key.
(p.s. Nova… have you got a personal URI, if so, does it output FOAF based RDF?)
[update]
I forgot to say, the profile pages on Twine don’t even give you FOAF based RDF… which is really annoying.
[/update]
[another update]
Tom Heath gives a bit more detail about some of the bad bits of Twine (in regards to the Linked Data issues) in his blog post titled “Twine and Linked Data“.
[/another update]
An interesting discussion is occurring on the Linking Open Data mailing list about whether Linked Data is an application or a capability. This is a tough question, and I would actually say both, here are my reasons:
Linked Data: The Application
Linked Data uses Semantic Web technology to link one object to another object over knowledge domains. Added to this point is that Linked Data uses the vast history (research + implementation) of Distributed Objects.
Linked Data: The capability
Semantic Web technology allows for one object to connect to another object in a different knowledge domain, therefore creating Linked Data. Data in the Semantic Web (and the Web) was always supposed to be distributed, therefore, Linked Data has always been part of the Semantic Web Technology Stack.
EITHER WAY
Either way:- interconnecting objects internally and externally (across knowledge domains), reusing existing ontologies (and schemas) and exploiting HTTP capabilities is an integral part of the future of the Web. It is good practice, hey, we could even go as far as saying that this stuff is essential for contemporary and future web applications.
Linked Data: A killer app?
If we can say that Linked Data is an application, then is it a “killer app“? I don’t know, I’ve never liked the term “killer app”…. all I can say is that Linked Data is a very very important component for meaningful data, and could be used for some very very useful applications.
I now have a flat to move in to mid-May 
Its in the Clifton area of Bristol, about 15 minutes away from the Computer Science Department of the University of Bristol and about 25 minutes away from Bristol City Centre. I am very excited to be moving to Bristol, and I feel that it will mark a new part of my life.
(also, there happens to be a lot of Semantic Web people living/working in Bristol… so it’ll be cool to be hanging out with them)
A couple of weeks ago we recorded the first episode of a new podcast series. The Semantic Web Gang is a panel of Semantic Web experts, organised and consisting of:
It was really good to star on the show, although I had a lot of microphone problems (anyone got any good advice on a USB headset that works on Macs?). At first I wasn’t sure that I was ready for such a series, as it seemed (a) too high level, (b) that I didn’t have enough experience. But then I thought against that because (a) it is turning out to be a discussion format with broad topics, and (b) I’ve been researching, developing, using and promoting Semantic Web technologies since late 2005!!!
The idea of the show is not to talk about the products/projects of the companies that we specifically work for, but to talk about the Semantic Web in a broad way and to show that the whole idea of the Semantic Web is to work together in an interconnected fashion. We have started to plan the forthcoming podcasts, and have got rough topics already (my suggestions, so expect some interesting discussions, and possibly some arguments!).
Since Easter Monday I’ve been getting more and more ill…. massive headaches, sore throat, sinus pains. Urgh! Silly winter-based symptoms…. I am trying to survive on Echinacea and Honey. I am sure that being on my DCM medication doesn’t help.
(p.s. you’ve probably been noticing that I’ve switched to a more micro-post blogging technique, this is because I want to start talking about how I’m feeling etc in microposts, and more interesting things (e.g. Tech + Religion) in bigger posts)
I get an email from the Oxford Diocese every day saying who / what to pray for. Today is Maundy Thursday, and they have a line from the Gospel of Luke 22:42:
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done
Which reminded me of the Wesley Covenant Prayer written by John Wesley:
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
I just wanted to share that with you.
I am going to be part of a Foot Washing service tonight…. then I’ll be rushing off to Bristol.
Good news: I’m going to visit a flat on Tuesday 25th March 2008 in Bristol as a potential place to live from this May. Fingers crossed its nice inside, because its in a really good location, and available from the time that I need it.
Not-too-good-news: My dosage of Ramipril has been upgraded to 10mg, which has surprised me a little, didn’t think it would make me feel quite so fuzzy-headed. So, unfortunately, I’m going to be working a bit later to compensate. I think I’ll be sleeping well tonight however!
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