Using FOAF To Support Community-Building Email B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk URL http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath Leigh Dodds ingenta Bath Email Leigh.Dodds@ingenta.com UKOLN is supported by:

Aims Of This Paper This paper aims to: Promote the ideas behind the Semantic Web Provide an easy-to-comprehend and easy-to-use demonstration of a Semantic Web application Demonstrate simple authoring tools for FOAF Encourage use of the tools by all IADIS participants Encourage the developer community to build on existing work

About The Semantic Web (1) Why is it needed? The Semantic Web is needed is order to provide a more structured Web in which resources can be brought together for a variety of purposes What is it? The Semantic Web can be regarded as a global distributed database, which can be developed without central coordination

About The Semantic Web (2) How is it done? The Semantic Web is an XML application which contains a simple mathematical model which defines relationships which are defined using a URI What are the challenges? The Semantic Web is perceived as difficult to understand. These apparent difficulties provide a barrier to its deployment

Is It Difficult? The mathematical model behind the Semantic Web is based on simple tuples, as illustrated Brian knows Leigh The relationship ('knows' in this case) is defined at a URI UKOLN works at Leigh Brian FOAF paper DC.Created by 01225 xxx Has phone no. Is this really conceptually difficult?

FOAF – A Simple SW Application Stands for "Friend Of A Friend" Provides structured links Information distributed & extensible Avoids data protection concerns Leigh's friend 1 friend n My friend 1 friend n Me, email, work place, friends … Leigh, email, … location, interests friends

FOAF Example (1) A view of my FOAF file, showing links to my friends Further information in my FOAF file Leigh's FOAF file, showing his additional information FOAF Explorer - <http://xml.mfd-consult.dk/foaf/explorer/>

FOAF Example (2) FOAFNaut - <http://www.foafnaut.org/>

Creating FOAF Several types of FOAF authoring tools are available: Do it by hand Web-based tools Dedicated tools Using a Wiki

What Does This Provide? We have shown : What we need now is: An interface to a structured Web, known as the Semantic Web Examples of different clients for viewing this Semantic Web Examples of how the data is extensible Examples of simple authoring tools What we need now is: Motivating factors to encourage uptake Richer tools for data-mining This is similar to the Web in 1992, before authoring tools were popular, before search engines were invented and only technical content was available

FOAF And Events We are using events (conferences, seminars, etc.) as a means to promote SW take-up: Delegates often want to establish links with people they meet (cf. use of business cards) Encouraging delegates to create their own data gets them motivated This also avoids data protection concerns and places maintenance of individual Use at technical conferences also provides: Feedback Opportunity to get developers engaged in further work

What Next? What can happen next: Further promotion of this concept at other events Encouragement for additional development: Dedicated viewing tools Search facilities … XML 2004 Beyond Browsing Find we people who attended WBC 2004 and XML 2004 who have an interest in xxx Leigh Brian IADIS WBC 2004

FOAFNaut FOAFNaut application is being extended to include visualisation of events data

What Next – For You Delegates Conference Organisers Developers Say hello to Brian – I can then add you to my FOAF file Create a FOAF file and link to me Use foaf-a-matic 2.0 / conference Wiki tool / … and include information on attendance at this participations Promote FOAF and the SW in your institution Conference Organisers Promote use of this approach Developers Work with the FOAF community in developing further tools

Conclusions To conclude: We have (briefly) explained the rationale for the Semantic Web We have demonstrated FOAF We have shown that using this Semantic Web application is not difficult We hope we have encouraged you to: Create your own FOAF file Work with the FOAF development community in further developing FOAF applications

Further Information / Questions About FOAF: <http://www.foaf-project.org/> FOAF-a-matic v2: <http://www.ldodds.com/wordtin/Wiki.jsp?page= FOAFaMaticMark2> FOAF Wiki: <http://rdfweb.org/topic/FoafProject>