As the internet has evolved from simple static web pages (Web 1.0) to thriving dynamic discussions built around communities of users (Web 2.0), a lot of thought and funding has been put into predicting where this trend will lead. Perhaps most prevalent among the various Web 3.0 ideas has been the concept of the semantic web. Even though I understand that the semantic web hopes to personalize the web experience and intelligently sort through the information overload we often confront online, I still wasn’t sure what this means for the average person. After some searching, I stumbled across an excerpt from a 2001 Scientific American article written by the inventor of the World Wide Web himself, Sir Tim Berners-Lee. He characterizes the semantic web through the following hypothetical example of Lucy, who is setting up physical therapy appointments for her mother:
“At the doctor’s office, Lucy instructed her Semantic Web agent through her handheld Web browser. The agent promptly retrieved information about Mom’s prescribed treatment from the doctor’s agent, looked up several lists of providers, and checked for the ones in-plan [eligible for insurance coverage] for Mom’s insurance within a 20-mile radius of her home and with a rating of excellent or very good on trusted rating services. It then began trying to find a match between available appointment times (supplied by the agents of individual providers through their Web sites) and Pete’s and Lucy’s busy schedules.“
Evidently Apple believes that this future is a very real possibility, as evidenced by their purchase of semantic web startup Siri.com in April. As for me, I can see this being of immense value for simplifying your life and bringing order to an otherwise chaotic online experience. On the negative side though, I am just not comfortable with giving up this much control to anything, whether it be computer algorithm or the crazy ex-girlfriend.
No comments:
Post a Comment