At the Semantics 2006 conference we will meet and discuss the status of Semantic Web. I will present some aspects of Microsofts perspective on the semantic web project.
Session abstract: What does it mean to drive adoption of semantic technologies like W3C has developed during the last year to meet the needs of the masses? Industry and consumer prefer pragmatic, easy and compelling approaches. But at the first glimpse semantic technologies appear to be complex, a niche approach for academics only and not tangible for masses.
This session discusses Microsoft’s perspective on semantic web technologies and how the web ecosystem should evolve within the next decade to become people ready.
It is quite interesting for me at the moment to scan various articles and publications about this topic to get an emotional impression how the masses feel about this initiative. Many publications are currently reflecting that the industry is very sceptic about the semantic web concept. Some believe it's too academic and not applicable for the masses. Many demand more proven and pragmatic approaches. Nobody doubts that the concept is reasonably but many have not identified their specific benefits yet.
Let's asume Semantic Web is the new web design, construction and usage paradigm. Adopting new paradigms always requires a dramatic mental shift and a critical mass that understands the fundamental changes and its implicit benefits. The paradigm gap, which is everything not understood by the "non experts", has to be bridged by emotional believes. At the moment the characteristic of this bridging is high complexity and mostly futuristic.
But there seems to grow a grassroot alternative approach through Web 2.0 principles. You could say Web 2.0 is more a bottom up approach while classic semantic web principles (ontology,..) are top down. And you will see more and more announcements concrete concepts like micro formats in the news soon that drive the semantic web idea organically.
I will collect a lot of material during the next weeks and publish a summary of my session from the Semantics 2006 conference. You should have an eye on the sementic web activities. There are a lot of great concepts already awailable now.
Harry