From Metadata to Ontologycwe.cim3.net/.../presentation/...PeterYim_20070719.pdfJul 19, 2007 · Peter P. Yim ONTOLOG, co-convener / CIM3, CEO presented

ppy/Boostrapping-From-Metadata-to-Ontology--PeterYim_20070719/Jul-2007 1

From Metadata to Ontology:From Metadata to Ontology: Bootstrapping Our Way To Bootstrapping Our Way To

The Next ParadigmThe Next Paradigmby

Peter P. Yim <[email protected]>

ONTOLOG, co-convener / CIM3, CEO

presented to the: IBM - Technology Review Team IBM - Technology Review Team (Corporate Technology Division) (Corporate Technology Division)

July 19, 2007( v 1.16 )


The QuestThe Quest• To understand To understand

share that understanding share that understanding • MeaningMeaning• KnowledgeKnowledge

• To improve effectivenessTo improve effectiveness As individualsAs individuals As communitiesAs communities By delegating some of that to machinesBy delegating some of that to machines

• The Means: The Means: Going from data to Going from data to smart-datasmart-data Going to the Going to the next level of abstractionnext level of abstraction


AbstractAbstract

I will be telling the story on the work of the Ontolog community. With that, I hope to share with your team on where I (personally) think we (Ontolog) came from, where we are heading, what we are doing and why it matters.


The Story of Ontolog - OutlineThe Story of Ontolog - Outline

• What is an Ontology?What is an Ontology?• What / Who is Ontolog? What / Who is Ontolog? • The dialog in OntologiesThe dialog in Ontologies• The Ontology SummitsThe Ontology Summits• The Ontolog Body of KnowledgeThe Ontolog Body of Knowledge• Why does it matter?Why does it matter?• Key Concepts at play Key Concepts at play • ReflectionsReflections• ReferencesReferences


Ontology & Ontologies Ontology & Ontologies • An ontology defines the terms used to describe and represent an area of An ontology defines the terms used to describe and represent an area of

knowledge (subject matter)knowledge (subject matter)– An ontology also is the model (set of concepts) for the meaning of An ontology also is the model (set of concepts) for the meaning of

those termsthose terms– An ontology thus defines the vocabulary and the meaning of that An ontology thus defines the vocabulary and the meaning of that

vocabularyvocabulary• Ontologies are used by people, databases, and applications that need to Ontologies are used by people, databases, and applications that need to

share domain information share domain information – Domain: a specific subject area or area of knowledge, like medicine, Domain: a specific subject area or area of knowledge, like medicine,

tool manufacturing, real estate, automobile repair, financial tool manufacturing, real estate, automobile repair, financial management, etc.management, etc.

• Ontologies include computer-usable definitions of basic concepts in the Ontologies include computer-usable definitions of basic concepts in the domain and the relationships among themdomain and the relationships among them– They encode domain knowledge (modular)They encode domain knowledge (modular)– Knowledge that spans domains (composable)Knowledge that spans domains (composable)– Make knowledge available (reusable)Make knowledge available (reusable)

Source: “What is An Ontology” Leo Obrst / Ontolog / 2006.01.12


Tightness of Coupling & Semantic Tightness of Coupling & Semantic Explicitness Explicitness

Implicit, TIGHT

Explicit, Loose

Local

Far

1 System: Small Set of Developers

Systems of Systems

Enterprise

Community

Internet

Looseness of Coupling

Sem

antic

s Ex

plic

itnes

s

Data

Same Address Space

Same DBMSFederated DBsData WHouses, Marts

Taxonomies

Workflow Ontologies

Semantic Mappings

XML, XML Schema

Conceptual Models

RDF/S, OWLWeb Services: UDDI, WSDL

OWL-S

Rules, Modal Policies

Application

Same Process Space

Same CPUSame OS

Same Programming Language

Same Local Area NetworkSame Wide Area Network Client-Server

Same Intranet

Compiling

Linking

Agent Programming

Web Services: SOAP

Distributed Systems OOP

Applets

Semantic Brokers

Middleware Web

Peer-to-peer

N-Tier Architecture EAI

From Synchronous Interaction to Asynchronous Communication

Performance = k / Integration_Flexibility



Ontology Spectrum: One View

weak semanticsweak semantics

strong semanticsstrong semantics

Is Disjoint Subclass of with transitivity property

Modal Logic

Logical Theory

Thesaurus Has Narrower Meaning Than

Taxonomy Is Sub-Classification of

Conceptual Model Is Subclass of

DB Schemas, XML Schema

UML

First Order Logic

RelationalModel, XML

ER

Extended ER

Description LogicDAML+OIL, OWL

RDF/SXTM

Syntactic Interoperability

Structural Interoperability

Semantic Interoperability

From less to m

ore expressive



ONTOLOG (aka. ONTOLOG (aka. Ontolog ForumOntolog Forum) est. Apr.2002) est. Apr.2002our "our "dialog in ontologydialog in ontology""

• Membership Membership - 360; from 20 different countries (as at mid Apr-2007)- 360; from 20 different countries (as at mid Apr-2007)• Users Users - from 115 cities globally, generating ~3000 visits and ~13,000 hits on our site per day- from 115 cities globally, generating ~3000 visits and ~13,000 hits on our site per day• Hosted Hosted on the CIM3 collaborative work environment infrastructureon the CIM3 collaborative work environment infrastructure• CharterCharter - Ontolog is an open, international, virtual community of practice, - Ontolog is an open, international, virtual community of practice,

whose membership willwhose membership will:: Discuss practical issues and strategies associated with the development and application of both Discuss practical issues and strategies associated with the development and application of both

formal and informal ontologies.formal and informal ontologies. Identify ontological engineering approaches that might be applied to the UBL effort, as well as to Identify ontological engineering approaches that might be applied to the UBL effort, as well as to

the broader domain of eBusiness standardization efforts.the broader domain of eBusiness standardization efforts. Strive to advance the field of ontological engineering and semantic technologies, and to help move Strive to advance the field of ontological engineering and semantic technologies, and to help move

them into main stream applications.them into main stream applications.• ActivitiesActivities::

Weekly conference calls of active membersWeekly conference calls of active members Monthly virtual Invited Speaker eventsMonthly virtual Invited Speaker events Scheduled Technical DiscussionsScheduled Technical Discussions Specific Projects: like [CCT-Rep], [Health-Ont], NHIN-RFI response, Upper Ontology Summit, Specific Projects: like [CCT-Rep], [Health-Ont], NHIN-RFI response, Upper Ontology Summit,

Event podcast, Ontologizing the Ontolog Content, Ontology-driven Applications Inventory, Event podcast, Ontologizing the Ontolog Content, Ontology-driven Applications Inventory, Database & Ontology, Ontology Measurement & Evaluation, [ONION] ... OntologySummit2007Database & Ontology, Ontology Measurement & Evaluation, [ONION] ... OntologySummit2007

Resides on a virtual collaborative work environment which serves as a dynamic knowledge Resides on a virtual collaborative work environment which serves as a dynamic knowledge repository to the community's collective intelligence repository to the community's collective intelligence

• We welcome your participationWe welcome your participation – see: http://ontolog.cim3.net/wiki/ – see: http://ontolog.cim3.net/wiki/• Questions? talk to any of our 3 co-conveners Questions? talk to any of our 3 co-conveners - - PeterYim; LeoObrst & KurtConradPeterYim; LeoObrst & KurtConrad


Fishnet Organization

An Organizational Form that the CWE aims at An Organizational Form that the CWE aims at Supporting – leading us toward Open Virtual EnterprisesSupporting – leading us toward Open Virtual Enterprises

Source: Institute for the Future: Johansen, R., Swigart, R. Upsizing the Individual in the Downsized Organization

Introducing the Fishnet OrganizationIntroducing the Fishnet Organization

these are temporary (or semi-permanent) hierarchies, that emerge out of the CoP's, which capitalize on distributed capabilities to achieve specific purposes; when those purposes are

achieved (or when the opportunities no longer exist), they disband, and the resources (people, knowledge, skillsets) are returned to the CoP’s where they come from.


Ontolog (Visitors) UsersOntolog (Visitors) Users


Ontolog’s key DifferentiationOntolog’s key Differentiation

Activities are community driven; we are neutral, Activities are community driven; we are neutral, open, and we are not answerable to anyone, open, and we are not answerable to anyone, except for (explicitly) our charter & IPR except for (explicitly) our charter & IPR policy, and (implicitly) our own professional policy, and (implicitly) our own professional integrity. integrity.

We are adamant about collaboration, sharing and open knowledge … and are trying to spur organic or emergent behavior

in the community and our project teams

ppy/Boostrapping-From-Metadata-to-Ontology--PeterYim_20070719/Jul-2007

Upper Ontology SummitUpper Ontology SummitOntolog / NIST - 15-Mar-2006


Ontology Summit 2007Ontology Summit 2007

Objective:Objective:“…“…to define and agree to a systematic means of to define and agree to a systematic means of

categorizing the many kinds of things that fall categorizing the many kinds of things that fall broadly within the "ontology" spectrum.”broadly within the "ontology" spectrum.”

Under the Title:Under the Title:““Ontology Summit 2007Ontology Summit 2007 - Ontology, Taxonomy, - Ontology, Taxonomy,

Folksonomy: Understanding the Distinctions” Folksonomy: Understanding the Distinctions”


A Brief Inclusive Characterization of A Brief Inclusive Characterization of Ontologies (in Computer Science & Ontologies (in Computer Science &

Engineering)Engineering)• Ontologies are used to support sharable and reusable Ontologies are used to support sharable and reusable

representations of knowledgerepresentations of knowledge– An early definition of Ontology: “a specification of a conceptualization” An early definition of Ontology: “a specification of a conceptualization”

(Gruber, 1994)(Gruber, 1994)• Nevertheless, the sheer range of current work in ontologies:Nevertheless, the sheer range of current work in ontologies:

– Including taxonomies, thesauri, topic maps, conceptual models, and Including taxonomies, thesauri, topic maps, conceptual models, and formal ontologies specified in various logical languagesformal ontologies specified in various logical languages

– Raises the possibility of ontologies being developed without a common Raises the possibility of ontologies being developed without a common understanding of their definition, implementation and applicationsunderstanding of their definition, implementation and applications

• Our objective:Our objective:– To provide a framework that ensures that we can support diversity To provide a framework that ensures that we can support diversity

without divergencewithout divergence– So that we can maintain sharability and reusability among the different So that we can maintain sharability and reusability among the different

approaches to ontologiesapproaches to ontologies

Source: OntologySummit2007 Symposium / Obrst-Gruninger / 2007.04.24


Ontology Dimensions: Ontology Dimensions: Semantic & PragmaticSemantic & Pragmatic

• We propose a set of dimensions that can be used to distinguish among We propose a set of dimensions that can be used to distinguish among different approachesdifferent approaches– SemanticSemantic– PragmaticPragmatic

• Semantic Dimensions: These constrain how a given approach specifies the Semantic Dimensions: These constrain how a given approach specifies the meaning of the termsmeaning of the terms1)1) Degree of Structure and FormalityDegree of Structure and Formality2)2) Expressiveness of the Knowledge Representation LanguageExpressiveness of the Knowledge Representation Language3)3) Representational granularityRepresentational granularity

• Pragmatic Dimensions: These cover the context in which the ontology is Pragmatic Dimensions: These cover the context in which the ontology is designed and useddesigned and used1)1) Intended UseIntended Use2)2) Role of Automated ReasoningRole of Automated Reasoning3)3) Descriptive vs. PrescriptiveDescriptive vs. Prescriptive4)4) Design MethodologyDesign Methodology5)5) GovernanceGovernance

Source: OntologySummit2007 Symposium / Obrst-Gruninger / 2007.04.24


Unprecedented Level of Involvement atUnprecedented Level of Involvement at the Ontology Summit 2007the Ontology Summit 2007

(as far as Ontolog is concerned)• An organizing committee of 12 (from NIST, Ontolog, MITRE,

NSF, NLM/NIH, W3C, NCOR, Stanford KSL & SMI, TagCommons, IBM Research and LOA-Italy)

• 50 co-sponsors (from 9 countries, including research institutions, standards groups, university departments-from Philosophy to Computer Science, major corporations to independent consultants, and web 2.0 entities)

• about 25% of the 360 Ontolog members were engaged in this initiative

• 52 individuals from 34 different constituencies responded to the online survey

• 57 people endorsed the Summit Communiqué


Proceedings ArchivedProceedings Archived• The virtual process were conductor on Ontolog The virtual process were conductor on Ontolog

Forum's collaborative work environment - Forum's collaborative work environment - which consisted of an archived mailing list, a which consisted of an archived mailing list, a wiki and a shared file (webdav) workspacewiki and a shared file (webdav) workspace

• Entire proceedings were archived, all contents Entire proceedings were archived, all contents accessible from a web browser (with fine grain accessible from a web browser (with fine grain accessibility), indexed for full text search, accessibility), indexed for full text search, tagged with metadata and openly availabletagged with metadata and openly available

• Refer to the OntologySummit2007 details at: Refer to the OntologySummit2007 details at: http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?OntologySummit2007http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?OntologySummit2007

18 ppy/Boostrapping-From-Metadata-to-Ontology--PeterYim_20070719/Jul-2007

Semantic TechnologiesSemantic Technologies, , applied in the presence of the ever applied in the presence of the ever increasing computing power and increasing computing power and connectivity, could well bode the connectivity, could well bode the

advent of a paradigm shiftadvent of a paradigm shift (in the sense of (in the sense of Thomas Kuhn's "Scientific Revolution")Thomas Kuhn's "Scientific Revolution") and and

usher the real "usher the real "knowledge knowledge economyeconomy""

Reflections (1)


Ontology Spectrum: Application

Logical Theory

Thesaurus

Taxonomy

Conceptual Model

Expr

essi

vity

Categorization, Simple Search & Navigation, Simple Indexing

Synonyms, Enhanced Search (Improved Recall) & Navigation, Cross Indexing

Application

Enterprise Modeling (system, service, data), Question-Answering (Improved Precision), Querying, SW Services

Real World Domain Modeling, Semantic Search (using concepts, properties, relations, rules), Machine Interpretability (M2M, M2H semantic interoperability), Automated Reasoning, SW Services

Ontology

weak

strongConcept (referent) - based

Term - based

More Expressive Semantic Models Enable More Complex Applications

Source: Leo Obrst, MITRE Jul.2007


(Ontology Enabled)(Ontology Enabled) OpportunitiesOpportunities• for the Scientistsfor the Scientists

– visions from the likes of Engelbart, McCarthy, Lenat, Berners-Lee, visions from the likes of Engelbart, McCarthy, Lenat, Berners-Lee, Hendler, etc. will finally come to fruitionHendler, etc. will finally come to fruition

– decades of research can be realized in real, non-trivial implementationsdecades of research can be realized in real, non-trivial implementations

• for the Engineersfor the Engineers– we'll actually be able to build next generation machines (systems, we'll actually be able to build next generation machines (systems,

networks, ...) that will off-load from humans, tasks (albeit simple ones) networks, ...) that will off-load from humans, tasks (albeit simple ones) that requires some 'reasoning' and 'thinking'that requires some 'reasoning' and 'thinking'

– these application can actually affect (hopefully benefit) the lives of these application can actually affect (hopefully benefit) the lives of many millions many millions

• for the Marketeersfor the Marketeers– a multi- multi- billion dollar market is right around the corner ...a multi- multi- billion dollar market is right around the corner ...– please don't kill it by “Hyping it up!”please don't kill it by “Hyping it up!”

... this is NOT a “zero-sum game”!


Engelbart's Capability Infrastructure

Tool System

MediaPortrayTravel, ViewStudyManipulateRetrieveComputeCommunicate

Human System

ParadigmsOrganizationProceduresCustomsMethodsLanguageAttitudes

CapabilityInfrastructure

Percept. Motor

Mental

SkillsKnowledge

Training

Capability to Improve

Needs a prominentand explicit role!

Harnessing explosive technology depends, to a new degree, on the Harnessing explosive technology depends, to a new degree, on the ““Capability-Improvement CapabilityCapability-Improvement Capability””

- Doug Engelbart, Jan. 2000

(excerpt from the Stanford ‘Unfinished Revolution-II’ Colloquium)


Working as Communities of Practice Working as Communities of Practice • small groups of people who have worked together over a period of small groups of people who have worked together over a period of

time. Not a team, not a task force, not necessarily an authorized or time. Not a team, not a task force, not necessarily an authorized or identified group. They are peers in the execution of "real work." What identified group. They are peers in the execution of "real work." What holds them together is a common sense of purpose and a real need to holds them together is a common sense of purpose and a real need to know what each other knows. know what each other knows. (--John Seely Brown / ref: (--John Seely Brown / ref: http://ps1.cim3.net/ps.php?theurl=http://ps1.cim3.net/ps.php?theurl= http://www.fastcompany.com/online/01/people.html#purp303 )#purp303 )

• a group of professionals, informally bound to one another through a group of professionals, informally bound to one another through exposure to a common class of problems, common pursuit of exposure to a common class of problems, common pursuit of solutions, and thereby themselves embodying a store of knowledge.solutions, and thereby themselves embodying a store of knowledge. (--Peter & Trudy Johnson-Lenz / ref: (--Peter & Trudy Johnson-Lenz / ref: http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/definitions.shtml))

• groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better.do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better. (--Etienne Wenger / ref: (--Etienne Wenger / ref: http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm))

• in the case of US eGov folks, it could be groups that work together in the case of US eGov folks, it could be groups that work together along lines of business within the government that are dedicated to the along lines of business within the government that are dedicated to the support of certain business functionssupport of certain business functions (ref: (ref: http://colab.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?DataReferenceModel_09_2004/TheGlossary_DRM_VolIv1#nid2K8F))

mailto:[email protected]?subject=IBM-TET presentation




Key Concepts at PlayKey Concepts at Play

• Ray Kurzweil’s “Law of Time and Chaos”Ray Kurzweil’s “Law of Time and Chaos”• Horst Rittle’s “Wicked Problems”Horst Rittle’s “Wicked Problems”• Thomas Kuhn’s “Paradigm Shift”Thomas Kuhn’s “Paradigm Shift”• Bob Johansen’s “Fishnet Organization”Bob Johansen’s “Fishnet Organization”• Jon Bosak’s “OASIS TC Process”Jon Bosak’s “OASIS TC Process”• Doug Engelbart’s “Bootstrapping”Doug Engelbart’s “Bootstrapping”• Don Tapscott’s “Wikinomics”Don Tapscott’s “Wikinomics”• Jim Spohrer's – Service Science, AugmentedJim Spohrer's – Service Science, Augmented


Ontolog – an open CoPOntolog – an open CoP

Caption: John McCarthy having a dialog with Doug Engelbart

at a tavern … with ‘the fishnet’ on the wall


Will we be able to make the best Will we be able to make the best of these opportunities?of these opportunities?

one last conjecture:

… … it might just depend on it might just depend on

‘ ‘ our attitude toward our attitude toward collaborating collaborating to bring ontology to bring ontology

into the mainstreaminto the mainstream’’


ReferenceReference• Doug EngelbartDoug Engelbart's Bootstrap 's Bootstrap Vision and MissionVision and Mission• The Ontolog Website: The Ontolog Website: http://ontolog.cim3.net/wiki/• Upper Ontology Summit Upper Ontology Summit (2006):

http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?UpperOntologySummit ; &Obrst, Leo; Patrick Cassidy; Steve Ray; Barry Smith; DagobertSoergel; Matthew West; Peter Yim. 2006. The 2006 Upper Ontology SummitJoint Communiqué. Journal of Applied Formal Ontology. Volume 1: 2, pp.203 - 211, 2006.

• Ontology Summit 2007: Ontology Summit 2007: http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?OntologySummit2007

• "Ontologizing the Ontolog Body of Knowledge" Series of Events: "Ontologizing the Ontolog Body of Knowledge" Series of Events: http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?OntologizingOntolog

• Ontolog activities & projects Ontolog activities & projects http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?WikiHomePage#nidF

• Noteworthy Ontolog Past Events: Noteworthy Ontolog Past Events: http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?WikiHomePage#nidZ

• The Ontolog Charter: The Ontolog Charter: http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?WikiHomePage#nidB • The Ontolog Membership Information: The Ontolog Membership Information:

http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?WikiHomePage#nid1J

http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?OntologySummit2007_Symposium







http://ontolog.cim3.net/wiki/








http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?UpperOntologySummit










http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?DougEngelbart










http://bootstrap.cim3.net/vision_mission.html










Documents

From Metadata to Ontologycwe.cim3.net/.../presentation/...PeterYim_20070719.pdfJul 19, 2007 · Peter P. Yim ONTOLOG, co-convener / CIM3, CEO presented