Machines Talking to Machines — A Crash Course in Semantic Web
The semantic web is a blanket term for the variety of ways that data is made machine-readable through linking related pieces of information together.
Does that sound confusing? Don’t worry, it can be very vague to the average internet user who doesn’t speak in computer code (I got a headache while trying to break down this information, so you are not alone). However, it is important to have a basic understanding of how it impacts internet browsing as the semantic web is growing at a rapid pace.
You may be asking yourself, So, how does the semantic web… work?
Coding languages like RDF, OWL and XML were created to describe things instead of the links between them. These descriptions help machines link related things together until, you guessed it, there is a web of interconnected information.
One of my favorite examples of this is BBC’s revolutionary approach to their athletics coverage during the Olympics, where links to a specific athlete were automatically aggregated by semantic web platforms. Similar strategies have been adopted by platforms like YouTube and Facebook to make the user experience better. Read more below for the impact this is having on our everyday lives and why you need to stay informed!
Too Much of a Good Thing
The semantic web makes the average internet user’s life extremely simple. Tim Brenners-Lee, the computer scientist who coined the term semantic web, said that his “dream” was for machines to communicate with machines to make everyday life easier.
On the business side, the semantic web helps suggest related content on the same platform to boost conversion rates and keep users happy. It seems like a win-win solution to many problems.
However, by solving everyday problems, the semantic web creates new ones. The first is the sheer size of data that is required to be interpreted as there is currently no way to eliminate duplicate terms. The second is the potential for deceitful information to be spread by programs that are designed to intentionally harm, although this is being addressed by cryptography techniques. The third is how inconsistencies and vagueness in terms will be addressed in a concise way.
Where Do We Go From Here?
If the above issues can be addressed, the semantic web has the potential to be how artificial intelligence communicates with the digital world. I believe we are moving toward an era where every family could have a personal AI assistant that will converge multiple semantic web technologies into one holistic being.
After reading this very short introduction into the crazy and sometimes elusive world of the semantic web, where do you think we’re headed and why? Stay informed about this topic, as this has already impacted how we receive and process information!