Re: FaceBook taking over the web, and semantic web

2010/4/23 ProjectParadigm-ICT-Program <metadataportals@yahoo.com>

> Dear all,
>
> Facebook plans to take over the web, by creating open graph based semantic
> content.
>
> See:
>
> http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/techtonicshifts/archive/2010/04/22/facebook-f8-internet-open-social-graph-semantic-web-twitter.aspx
>
> FaceBook has come under fire for selling information about users to
> marketing companies.
>
> Is this a serious threat to the open structure of the Internet and the
> linked data paradigm as envisioned by the W3C?
>

My first impression of the open graph protocol has been pretty positive.

They are using well formed RDFa, and bringing that technology to a wider
audience.

There may be some shortcomings in their publishing patterns, but they've
gone for simplicity of deployment, and will make inferences at parse time.

The machine readable schema is currently missing, however I saw a thread
this morning where facebook were talking to danbri about creating one ... so
there's at least some positive engagement there.  I think we have the SWXG
chairs to thank, for doing some of the ground work, where when David
Recordon (Facebook) was invited to speak to the W3C.

The schema reuses existing terms, but surely everyone has a right to make
their own schema?

The one thing I'm slightly unclear on, is the IPR associated with this
protocol, (IANAL) it seems to be under an OWF licence, but  first impression
that it's free to reuse.

I think this will encourage a lot more people to start using the semantic
web, in a lite form, which hopefully can be a springboard to bigger and
better things.


>
> Milton Ponson
> GSM: +297 747 8280
> Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation
> PO Box 1154, Oranjestad
> Aruba, Dutch Caribbean
> www.rainbowwarriors.net
> Project Paradigm: A structured approach to bringing the tools for
> sustainable development to all stakeholders worldwide
> www.projectparadigm.info
> EarthForge: Creating ICT tools for NGOs worldwide for Project Paradigm
> www.earthforge.info, www.developmentforge.info
> MetaPortal: providing online access to web sites and repositories of data
> and information for sustainable development
> www.metaportal.info
>
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
> solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
> If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.
> This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the
> individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not
> disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
>
>