RE: On the messaging issues (was also the RDF/XML discussion on the call)

Microformats [1] - "designed for humans first and machines second". 

I wonder where they got the idea for the above. Perhaps they wish to
purposely differentiate themselves from the SW knowing that it isn't
understood, let alone adopted. 

More quotes from the Microformats people:

"highly correlated with semantic XHTML, AKA the real world semantics, AKA
lowercase semantic web, AKA lossless XHTML" and 

"a set of simple open data format standards that many are actively
developing and implementing for more/better structured blogging and web
microcontent publishing in"

[...]

This is a standard/method(?) that is explained very well in my opinion and
we should learn from its success. I hear from a reliable source that there
are over 100 million implementations of hCard. Real users include LinkedIn! 

Microformats was setup as a result of the SW moving too slowly (or not at
all in some people's opinions). Microformats is hugely successful because
there are real benefits to realise immediately. 

Personally I'm an evangelist for the SW, but we need a brand new approach,
or the SW will do more of the same and end up walking on ice while others
come up with short term solutions to real problems that are being faced
today (not tomorrow).

So, can someone tell me in simple language, what they think the Semantic Web
is? We really need to start with the basics. To me and Segala, it's adding
metadata about a resource to enable more trust on the Web. 

Clearly my wording is limiting, but I'm hoping it will stimulate others to
come up with more user friendly explanations. I purposely use the term
Metadata because everyone *I* talk to understand it and believe it is
useful. Furthermore, I purposely mention 'trust' because it's an example of
an issue the Web/people face today. 

We're s_t_i_l_l getting bogged down by techie stuff which simply won't
interest my particular group of companies/people - the digital industry in
the UK and soon, the usability professionals in Ireland. That is, people who
design and build Web sites and people who are learning how to design and
build Web sites. And soon, people who help other people to make Web sites
more user friendly and accessible to more people on more devices. Ok, so I
can't influence that many people, but at least my audience is a good cross
section of potential customers.

I've heard a number of people reference their interest/work in 'social Web
sites'. Is anyone on the list talking to the social Web site
owners/managers?

I hope my note doesn't come across as negative, I'm looking to play devil's
advocate with the techies (including my own staff) :-)

[1] http://microformats.org/about/

Kind regards,
Paul 

-----Original Message-----
From: public-sweo-ig-request@w3.org [mailto:public-sweo-ig-request@w3.org]
On Behalf Of Kingsley Idehen
Sent: 04 December 2006 17:19
To: public-sweo-ig@w3.org
Cc: W3C SWEO IG
Subject: Re: On the messaging issues (was also the RDF/XML discussion on the
call)


Lee Feigenbaum wrote:
> Kingsley Idehen wrote on 12/04/2006 09:46:59 AM:
>
>   
>> Ivan/Lee: Is there an incongruence between the items I am listing above 
>> and the RDF/XML matter resolution as you see it?
>>     
>
> Hi Kingsley,
>
> I don't have a strong feeling on the layer cake. I've never used it when 
> teaching or pitching SW to someone outside the community (at least not 
> until the late stages of the game) and don't think that it (the visual 
> picture itself) is a major sales material of SW technologies. 
>
> I also don't think that dispeling RDF/XML myths need be a cornerstone of 
> SWEO messaging. I've rarely personally had someone express reservations to

> me about SW technologies because of RDF/XML, and while I understand that 
> in the past confusion between the interchange syntax and the data model 
> turned people off from the field, I do not (personally) see it as a major 
> inhibitor currently. But I also think that my personal experience is 
> largely worthless here: I think that we should wait and see what our 
> surveys tell us about the market's view of SW technologies, and craft our 
> messaging accordingly.
>   

Lee,

Okay, cornerstone is a little heavy :-) 

The Serialization Formats and Data Model disambiguation issue should be 
an essential part of the SWEO outreach messaging effort?

Focal point being, that existing and future collateral should be 
cognizant of the tendency to inadvertently skew the RDF Data Model with 
an over emphasis on RDF/XML. In short, more N3/Turtle examples should 
accompany RDF/XML examples when assembling, or editing existing, 
introductory presentation material about the RDF Data Model etc..

I really want to be crystal clear about the point I am trying to make 
about the messaging and the use of the Layer Cake to guide the 
construction of said messaging.

> Lee
>
>   


-- 


Regards,

Kingsley Idehen	      Weblog: http://www.openlinksw.com/blog/~kidehen
President & CEO 
OpenLink Software     Web: http://www.openlinksw.com






-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.430 / Virus Database: 268.15.6/567 - Release Date: 04/12/2006
07:18

Received on Tuesday, 5 December 2006 01:29:19 UTC