FW: SWEO-IG flyer comments

All, 

Attached is an email Ann Bassetti sent around to a few SWEO-ers in
response to a note I sent her. It regards our flyer that is in
development. Ann is Boeing's W3C representative (I'm Boeing's rep to the
SWEO-IG, and occasionally let her know what we're doing).

She has an useful set of comments, and they should be shared with
everyone.

--------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey Schiffel   (316) 393-0497  M/C K81-77
The Boeing Company - IDS Wichita
System of Systems Engineering
--------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------

> Jeff shared your draft flyer with me (mock_up-1.ppt).  I am taking the
> liberty of sending back a few comments.  Since Ivan, Dan and Kingsley
> are the other folks I specifically know on the list, I thought I'd
> send my note to all of you, so can sling barbs at me not Jeff.
> 
> I am looking at this flyer from the vantage of a non-geek.  I want
> such a flyer to hand to my management, who don't tolerate geek talk,
> and want to grasp the message in a few bullets. (And, the higher up
> you go in the management chain, the fewer the bullets!)
> 
> ===================================
> 
> PAGE 1:  Looks very handsome, except for text formatting in "Data
> unleashed" block is messed up. Plus, for me, I didn't realize there
> was text underneath that box until I moved it.  (But Jeff said there
> are still formatting issues, so you probably already know about this.)
> 
> ===================================
> 
> PAGE 2:  ("What Is the Semantic Web?")  
> 
> A) aaargh, I don't think you actually define it.  I saw the title and
> got my hopes up. You describe the problems, and say the SemWeb will
> surmount them by doing this and that.  But you still don't say WHAT it
> is.
> 
> B) This whole page is way too long as the first definition.  I want
> there to be a very simple statement underneath the title question.  I
> do not want to read 5 paragraphs. (People will not do it!)
> 
> I like these definitions, which I took from
> http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/:
> 
> -------------------------
> The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to be
> shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community
> boundaries.  
>   
> ...
> 
> The Semantic Web is a web of data. There is lots of data we all use
> every day, and its not part of the web. I can see my bank statements
> on the web, and my photographs, and I can see my appointments in a
> calendar. But can I see my photos in a calendar to see what I was
> doing when I took them? Can I see bank statement lines in a calendar?
> 
> Why not? Because we don't have a web of data. Because data is
> controlled by applications, and each application keeps it to itself.
> 
> The Semantic Web is about two things. It is about common formats for
> integration and combination of data drawn from diverse sources, where
> on the original Web mainly concentrated on the interchange of
> documents. It is also about language for recording how the data
> relates to real world objects. That allows a person, or a machine, to
> start off in one database, and then move through an unending set of
> databases which are connected not by wires but by being about the same
> thing.
> -------------------------
> 
> I would edit those paragraphs to be something like ...
> 
> -------------------------
> The Semantic Web provides a common framework that allows data to be
> shared and reused across application, enterprise, and community
> boundaries.  
>   
> The Semantic Web goal is to have a web of data. 
> 
> We all use lots of data every day, and it's not part of the web. I can
> see my bank statements, my photographs, my calendar appointments on
> the web.  But those are just separate views of separate pieces of
> data. I cannot combine them to see my photos in a calendar (to see
> what I was doing when I took the pictures). I cannot see my bank
> statement lines in a calendar.   <<Ann: it would be good if the 2nd
> example did not also use a calendar>>
> 
> Why not? Because we don't have a web of data. Data is currently
> controlled by applications, and each application keeps it to itself.
> 
> The Semantic Web is about establishing two things:
> 
> 1. Common formats for integrating and combining data drawn from
> diverse sources.  (Whereas the original Web mainly concentrated on the
> interchange of documents.)
> 
> 2. A language for recording how the data relates to real world
> objects. <<Ann:  this is a little unclear to me>>
> 
> In the Semantic Web, a person or a machine, can start off in one
> database, and then move through an unending set of databases which are
> connected not by wires but because they are about the same thing.  I
> can start off looking at my bank statement. I can locate a restaurant
> that I ate at on a map. I can jump to photographs I took while at that
> restaurant. I can see who else (people I don't know!) took photos in
> that same restaurant.  ... on and on ..
> 
> Today I can look up my bank statement, the restaurant location, etc.,
> but it requires me to go in and out of different applications each
> time.  In the Semantic Web, I can just click and go from one concept
> to another, so long as they have a common uniting point. 
> 
> <<Ann:  I'm not at all sure this last sentence is true.  I'm just
> trying to contrast how one does it today against what the SemWeb
> brings to the picture....  There are undoubtedly other inaccuracies in
> my edited version.  But I hope you get the gist of what I think works
> for a novice. 
> 
> Also, my edited version is too long.>>
> -------------------------
> 
> 
> ===================================
> 
> PAGE 3: 
> 
> A.) In the diagram, I suggest you should indicate somehow, which part
> you are implying is the Semantic Web, or how this diagram relates to
> SemWeb.
>   
> B.) The text in white box is way too geeky.
>  
> ------------------------------------
> A Web of connected knowledge bases.  ...>> this is pretty good, but
> not sure what 'knowledge bases' are?
> 
> Contextualize the use of data by using ontologies.  ...>> this
> sentence is totally inscrutable ... contextualize with ontologies?
> yikes
> 
> Retrieval of information through a unified query interface, ...>> is
> there a simpler way to say "unified query interface"?
> 
> ... regardless how and where data is stored.   ...>> yay, no gripes
> about this one!
> 
> Reasoning with data and offering different views over the data.  ...
> >> pretty good
> ------------------------------------
> 
> C.) I like the testimonials
> 
> ===================================
> 
> PAGE 4:
> 
> A.) Nice diagram, and nice simple definitions!
> 
> B.) This paragraph is generally OK, but there seems to be a missing
> word or something:
> 
> "Semantic Web applications are not require to use technologies from
> all the presented layers. Since Semantic Web issues such as automated
> trust establishment based on policies and credentials are investigated
> at moment, the presented palette of Semantic Web technologies will be
> extended in the future."
> 
> s/credentials are investigated/credentials are being(?) investigated/
> 
> ===================================
> 
> You guys are all geek gods in my eyes, so I humbly make these
> suggestions.  I hope they are helpful.  (It's OK with me if you share
> them.)
> 
> Best to each of you -- Ann
> 
> Ann Bassetti
> Web Integration Manager
> Boeing Information Technology
> Computing and Network Operations
> telephone (desk):  +1.425.865.6603
> mobile:  +1.206.218.8039
> email:  ann.bassetti@boeing.com
> 
> 
> 
>

Received on Monday, 2 July 2007 16:19:30 UTC