1. Developments of the Semantic Web at the Museum of the History of Science Florence, 16 June 2003 Marco Berni

2. Florence, 16 June 2003 2Semantic web at IMSS Main question: How can we go ahead on Semantic Web and ontologies at IMSS? How can we go ahead on Semantic Web and ontologies at IMSS?

3. Florence, 16 June 2003 3Semantic web at IMSS Try to answer: Evaluation of the achieved outcome Evaluation of the achieved outcome How we can make an ontology How we can make an ontology Mesmuses experience Mesmuses experience Beyond Mesmuses Beyond Mesmuses Resources to make the ontology run Resources to make the ontology run Critical points Critical points Hypothesis on achievable results Hypothesis on achievable results

4. Florence, 16 June 2003 4Semantic web at IMSS Evaluation of the achieved outcome Mesmuses prototypes are very useful samples of Semantic Web application Mesmuses prototypes are very useful samples of Semantic Web application Allows data browsing with “intelligent” search Allows data browsing with “intelligent” search Opportunity to make searches not only on words, but on the meaning of words too (semantic search) Opportunity to make searches not only on words, but on the meaning of words too (semantic search) Test semantic search on a history of science domain Test semantic search on a history of science domain

5. Florence, 16 June 2003 5Semantic web at IMSS How we can make an ontology Mesmuses experience 1 First try First try Theoretical approach Theoretical approach Ontology was designed in order to model domain of historic science knowledge Ontology was designed in order to model domain of historic science knowledge No data were available. Need for a totally manual data input No data were available. Need for a totally manual data input Schema and instances were very subjective Schema and instances were very subjective Useful for itineraries, not for search Useful for itineraries, not for search

6. Florence, 16 June 2003 6Semantic web at IMSS How we can make an ontology Mesmuses experience 2 Second try Second try Bottom-up approach Bottom-up approach Ontology was designed just looking to available databases Ontology was designed just looking to available databases Deep analysis of databases structure in order to map relational structure on ontology concept/property Deep analysis of databases structure in order to map relational structure on ontology concept/property Data input from relational databases with little manual attendance Data input from relational databases with little manual attendance Schema and instances are quite “objective”, but at the moment don’t cover all the history of science domain Schema and instances are quite “objective”, but at the moment don’t cover all the history of science domain Useful for search Useful for search

7. Florence, 16 June 2003 7Semantic web at IMSS IMSS Ontology How we can make an ontology Beyond Mesmuses 1 IMSS Database ARAM – Multimedia Archive STS – Scientific Instruments ICONA – Ichonographic Archive BIBLIO – Catalogue of the Library ARMU – Historical archives etc. GT@ – GalileoTek@ Extended Dublin Core IMSS Itineraries

8. Florence, 16 June 2003 8Semantic web at IMSS IMSS Ontology How we can make an ontology Beyond Mesmuses 2 IMSS Database ARAM – Multimedia Archive STS – Scientific Instruments ICONA – Ichonographic Archive BIBLIO – Books Catalogue ARMU – Historical archives etc. GT@ – GalileoTek@ Extended Dublin Core DCTitle DCCreator Creator Inventor DCSubject DCDescription DCPublisher DcContributor.PersonalName DcContributor.CorporatelName User Receiver Giver Purchaser IsDedicated..... DCrelation IsVersionOf HasVersion IsReplacedBy IsRequiredBy Requires IsPartOf HasPart IsReferencedBy References IsFormatOf HasFormat.....

9. Florence, 16 June 2003 9Semantic web at IMSS How we can make an ontology Beyond Mesmuses 3 Scientific Places in Tuscany Old version Plain hypertext Plain hypertext Links have not any semantics Links have not any semantics

10. Florence, 16 June 2003 10Semantic web at IMSS How we can make an ontology Beyond Mesmuses 4 Scientific Places in Tuscany Forthcoming version Structured hypertext Structured hypertext Links have a semantics Links have a semantics e.g. Brunelleschi MAKER Dome e.g. Brunelleschi MAKER Dome Maker Dome Brun.

11. Florence, 16 June 2003 11Semantic web at IMSS How we can make an ontology Beyond Mesmuses 5 History of science community shared ontology IMSS ontology Institution 2 ontology Institution 3 ontology Institution 4 ontology Institution n ontology Web resource

12. Florence, 16 June 2003 12Semantic web at IMSS How we can make an ontology Beyond Mesmuses 6 Start to re-design database for ontology and semantic search Start to re-design database for ontology and semantic search Mapping of existing database schemas into classes and properties Mapping of existing database schemas into classes and properties Extended Dublin Core Extended Dublin Core IMSS specifics IMSS specifics Partial automatic indexing of data according to the mapping rules Partial automatic indexing of data according to the mapping rules Manual actions required to complete indexing process Manual actions required to complete indexing process Design an ontology valid for the whole history of science community Design an ontology valid for the whole history of science community

13. Florence, 16 June 2003 13Semantic web at IMSS Resources to make the ontology run Domain experts to map database to ontology Domain experts to map database to ontology Software for data harvesting Software for data harvesting Operators to manually adjust data Operators to manually adjust data Portal Portal Schema / data loader Schema / data loader Browsing / searching engine Browsing / searching engine Graphical user interface Graphical user interface Set up a community-web and coordinate it Set up a community-web and coordinate it Produce (and agree on) a shared ontology Produce (and agree on) a shared ontology Share resources Share resources

14. Florence, 16 June 2003 14Semantic web at IMSS Critical points Ontology production Ontology production Integration between ontology and itineraries Integration between ontology and itineraries Iterative construction of new ontology to make a better coverage of domain and data Iterative construction of new ontology to make a better coverage of domain and data User interface usability User interface usability Test of existing interfaces Test of existing interfaces Requirements to improve interaction effectiveness Requirements to improve interaction effectiveness Iterates many times this step Iterates many times this step Agreement on a community web ontology for history of science Agreement on a community web ontology for history of science Impact of a schema modification on existing data Impact of a schema modification on existing data Have mapping of data to be redone? Have mapping of data to be redone?

15. Florence, 16 June 2003 15Semantic web at IMSS Hypothesis on achievable results Strongly improve access to IMSS documents and database Strongly improve access to IMSS documents and database Provide a framework for history of science e- learning Provide a framework for history of science e- learning Share navigable data with the community Share navigable data with the community Create an access point to the history of science resources on the web Create an access point to the history of science resources on the web Create a virtual museum of history of science on the web independently from the physical location of the objects Create a virtual museum of history of science on the web independently from the physical location of the objects