1. Using FOAF To Support Community-Building
URL
Brian Kelly
UKOLN
University of Bath
Bath
Leigh Dodds
ingenta
Bath
UKOLN is supported by:

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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, , work place,
friends …
Leigh, , … location, interests
friends

7. 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 - <

8. FOAF Example (2)
FOAFNaut - <

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Further Information / Questions
About FOAF:
<
FOAF-a-matic v2:
< FOAFaMaticMark2>
FOAF Wiki:
<