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Semantic Web and Controlled Vocabularies

  • Lesson title: Semantic Web and Controlled Vocabularies
  • Keywords: Controlled vocabulary, Terminology, Ontology
  • Objective/Description: In this lesson, we will get an overview of Semantic Web followed by an introduction to the spectrum of controlled vocabularies with a focus on those where community agreements play an important role (i.e., terminologies), particularly ontologies and their main elements.
  • Learning outcomes:
    • Understanding what Semantic web is and how it relates to the Web
    • Explaining the relation between semantics and controlled vocabularies
    • Distinguishing differences across terminologies in terms of formality and semantics support
    • Explaining what an ontology is and describing its main characteristics and elements

Resources

Questions and answers

These Q&A aim to validate a basic understanding of concepts discussed during the lecture. The use of such concepts is beyond the scope of this Q&Astudy set as it is addressed via projects and hands-on for those enrolled in the corresponding university course.

What are some examples of unstructured data?

Text, images.

What are some examples of structured data?

Databases following a data schema.

What is the relation between semantics and Semantic Web

The Semantic Web relies on semantics to:
Improve data exchange,
Make data interpretable by humans and machines,
Enable data computation based on the meaning of things, e.g., reasoning.

What are some differences between the Web and the Semantic Web

The Web delivers pages, the Semantic Web delivers data.
The Web uses IP addresses, the Semantic Web uses identifiers, e.g., URIs.
The Web pages are not interoperable, the Semantic Web enables data interoperability.

What are some examples of controlled vocabularies and what characterizes them?

Lists, a set of controlled elements.
Taxonomies, with support for hierarchy.
Thesauri, with support to additional relations such as equivalent to.
Terminology, a controlled vocabulary agreed by a community.
Ontology, with reach relations and support for inference.

What are the main elements in an ontology

Classes: a kind of thing.
Attributes: characteristics that Individuals and Classes can have.
Relations: ways for Classes and Individuals to interact/connect with each other.
Individuals: instances or objects belonging to a Class.

'Semantic Web and Controlled Vocabularies' 'Controlled vocabulary, Terminology, Ontology' 'In this lesson, we will get an overview of Semantic Web followed by an introduction to the spectrum of controlled vocabularies with a focus on those where community agreements play an important role (i.e., terminologies), particularly ontologies and their main elements.' - '"Understanding what Semantic web is and how it relates to the Web"' - '"Explaining the relation between semantics and controlled vocabularies"' - '"Distinguishing differences across terminologies in terms of formality and semantics support"' - '"Explaining what an ontology is and describing its main characteristics and elements"'

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