and in plain English?

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From: The Forum for Information Standards in Heritage (FISH) on behalf of Tudhope D S (AT)
Sent: Tue 22/04/2008 14:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [FISH] pilot set of SKOS based semantic web services

The STAR project has developed a pilot set of semantic web services, based upon the SKOS Core data model for thesauri and related knowledge organization systems. The services provide term look up in vocabularies known to the system, browsing and semantic concept expansion. Details can be found at http://hypermedia.research.glam.ac.uk/kos/terminology_services/

The service is based on a subset of the SWAD Europe SKOS API with extensions for concept expansion. The service currently consists of 7 function calls, which could be integrated into a textual or metadata based search system.

The services currently provide term look up across the thesauri held in the system, along with browsing and semantic concept expansion within a chosen thesaurus. This allows search to be augmented by SKOS-based vocabulary and semantic resources (assuming the services are used in conjunction with a search system).

Users may browse a concept space to explore and become familiar with specialist terminology or as part of a broader application. A query is often expressed at a different level of generalisation from document content or metadata, or may employ a slightly different semantic perspective. In combination with a search system, the services allow queries to be expanded (automatically or interactively) by synonyms or by expansion over the SKOS semantic relationships. Expansion is based on a measure of 'semantic closeness'.
Anyone interested is welcome to inspect the API or download a client demonstrator, which is currently configured to operate with a subset of English Heritage thesauri. We're keen to receive any feedback or suggestions. It's intended as an pilot demonstrator of core functionality rather than any final user interface. It should install and run automatically (after one or two initial questions).

A WSDL file and service description are available. The work is ongoing and we welcome any feedback or interest in collaboration on developing an API to support a rich range of SKOS use cases.

Doug


Douglas Tudhope
Professor, Faculty of Advanced Technology
University of Glamorgan
Pontypridd CF37 1DL
Wales, UK
Tel +44 (0) 1443-483609
Fax +44 (0) 1443-482715
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
http://hypermedia.research.glam.ac.uk/people/tudhope/
Editor : The New Review of Hypermedia and Multimedia

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