Archive

Jul 29

The Tim Berners Lee Article that aired Semantic Web as a concept

In 2001, Tim Berners Lee wrote an article for Scientific American magazine that opened up a new discussion about how the web needed to be more interlinked as it increased to a gargantuan size. Their theory was based upon the following criteria:

To date, the World Wide Web has developed most rapidly as a medium of documents for people rather than of information that can be manipulated automatically. By augmenting Web pages with data targeted at computers and by adding documents solely for computers, we will transform the Web into the Semantic Web.

Computers will find the meaning of semantic data by following hyperlinks to definitions of key terms and rules for reasoning about them logically. The resulting infrastructure will spur the development of automated Web services such as highly functional agents.

Ordinary users will compose Semantic Web pages and add new definitions and rules using off-the-shelf software that will assist with semantic markup.

The article is a fascinating read from one of the foremost proponents of Semantic Web, and made all the more fascinating as it’s from way back in 2001.

Please click the link to download the PDF. All rights are owned by Scientific American.

Jul 12

RKB Explorer

Just to see how far we’ve come, here’s a link to what Nigel Shadbolt was demoing in the previous video from all the way back in 2003…

http://www.rkbexplorer.com

Jul 12

Nigel Shadbolt weaves his way through Semantic web

An interesting, and not heavy, video of the roots of Nigel Shadbolt’s work in semantic web with some great old references to research work done over many years of continuous study.

Nigel Shadbolt on Semantic Web

Jul 12

iGlue Movie now online

In the previous months we’ve been working hard to encapsulate just what it is that iGlue does in as simple terms of possible. Our award winning trip to Geek’n'Rolla in London really helped us to sell ourselves, and more importantly really explain iGlue to people who aren’t immersed in the tech world on a 24 hour basis. As a result, we’ve created this movie which we hope gives everyone a clear understanding of what we’re doing right now. Enjoy… http://blog.iglue.hu/docs/iGlueShortPrezi/

Iglue Movie

Jun 25

Tim Berner’s Lee on the semantic web in everyday life

A very eloquent explanation of why Tim Berners Lee was frustrated with the amount of data on the web and its inability to find a relationship between it. This, for us, is a very simple explanation of why semantic linking of content and sources can be useful for business but also for everyday life, not least when searching for information on the increasingly huge web….

Tim Berners-Lee on semantic web

Jun 25

How the BBC uses semantic technology to enhance its user experience

A very interesting article we just found on the BBC. One of the BBC’s biggest issue is its wealth of content is becoming harder to find. As one of the biggest websites in the world, BBC teams have begun to consider how semantic technology can be used to provide users with additional relevant information about other BBC content. In short, an ability to provide connections between what were previously separate pieces of content allows the BBC to save money whilst simultaneously enhancing the user experience for its licence fee payers.

For more in depth info please check here:

http://fb.me/D9iSDNd6

Apr 08

Glue-Bug for Beta Testers

In orded to solicit error reporting from our Beta testers, and to make the process more enjoyable, we developed a new interface called iGlue-Bug.

This easy-to-use, small, Flex-based program allows testers to report errors discovered in the program, and provides a medium through which ideas, suggestions and improvements can be relayed to the development team.

A few words about using iGlue-Bug:

To activate iGlue-Bug simply click on the iGlue logo found in Ice Cube’s upper left-hand corner; then simply click on the iGlue-Blog link in the drop-down menu:

This will activate the reporting interface beginning with its HOME page

HOME

The first page contains a brief description of iGlue-Bug.

REPORT A BUG

  1. In the upper left hand corner you can select the iGlue component where you encountered the bug.
  2. In the right-hand side image you will see the selected element highlighted in a red box.
  3. In the lower left side you can see previously reported bugs/problems related to the element selected, as reported by other Beta testers, if any.
  4. If you select an already reported bug in the lower left-hand side, its associated description will appear in the lower right-hand side.
  5. If this list doesn’t contain a description for the Bug you want to report, simply click on the “Report a Bug” button.
  6. Fill out the form presented by the system to report your new Bug, then send it to us.
  7. You can also attach a screen capture to your report by clicking on the “Attach a Screenshot” button.

OPINION/OTHER Tab

If you are not looking to report any specific errors, but would like to send us feedback, suggestions, feature requests or constructive critisism, simply click on ’Opinion/Other’ and fill out the form found there. We are eager to receive/read any and all feedback on iGlue to make this product a better user experience.

You can also communicate with us about iGlue, Ice Cube or any other topic on the iGlue Blog (www.iglue.com/blog) or via email iglue@iglue.com.

Mar 27

The Next Step: iGlue Beta Test

We have arrived to the next important step - we have upgraded ICe Cube, the module of IGlue that appears on outer sites, and at the same time we have started the beta-testing of the new version.

Keys, at a limited number, are still available and can be registered for on the following web site: www.iglue.com .

Those with beta-keys can find our new demo on: www.iglue.com/demo2/.

In the first phase, we ask the testers’ help to specify and refine the features of Ice Cube, the module shown on external annotated web pages.

The most important components of the iGlue system are:

  • a collaboratively developed, flexibly structured database that contains semantic elements, entities and their relational connections.
  • a natural language processing engine to extract content from websites by identifying entities inside the texts
  • a user interface (“Ice Cube”) for visualizing the information related to the entities (data, images, videos, maps, dates) and the relationships among the entities.

Compatibility

For compatibility we have exchanged the previous java script base to a flash/flex basis, by doing so we have greatly enhanced the compatibility with the different browsers and opened up the possibility of building in new features.

Currently the module runs under the following browsers:

  • Internet Explorer 7, 8
  • Firefox 2, 3
  • Chrome 1, 2
  • Safari 3, 4
  • Opera 9
  • Netscape 9

he minimum requirement for the operation of the module is Flash Player version 9 and to its optimal operation we recommend version 10, which can be downloaded from the following site: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

What’s coming up in the future?

After the testing phase of the Ice Cube module is complete, we will open up the collaborative database in order to test its searching and extension capabilities with the help of the community.

We would like to wish you a good time experimenting, and we hope that with your help, we will together create a truly exciting and useful application!

Jul 24

First functional demo of iGlue released!

This is our first step: the first functional demo of iGlue released! Click here to launch (Firefox and Safari only):

We affectionately call iGlue the internet’s semantic superglue. It is an online interface that is a search engine and content organizer, capable of intelligently rearranging and defragmenting the internet’s broken up data piles, establishing interlinked entities based hierarchies in the process. It organizes interrelated images, videos, people, concepts, notions, ideas and geographical places into cohesive data structures.

The heart of iGlue is what we call the hyper-data model. With the help of hyper-data any text, data, image, video or any other database entry can become a data junction. iGlue reads and understand the web pages meaningful content and then with a single click it organizes and builds an interlinked net of data relating to that chosen content. The building blocks of this data net are the individual data junctions linked together like Lego pieces.

Entities in the thus built multi dimensional data matrix can be called upon either from a text, (moving) image, time or space (map) perspective with ease.

Operation:

In this first iteration of iGlue the following features are available:

  • Identification of text elements: iGlue recognizes and identifies text within the contents of web pages as illustrated in the demo (in the current release it understand names, geographic positions and institutions in the sample New York times article). To start iGlue’s recognition engine simply click on the green „iGlue annotate” button in the upper right hand corner.
  • Data linked to entities: Data linked to the identified and highlighted test elements can easily be called up simply by clicking on the highlighted text. This will start the iGlue interface. Once the interface is open, recognized data can also be access from the „Annotated Content” tab.
  • Chosen content related data: Content specific, organized data can be viewed in the left hand column of the iGlue interface.
    You can chose content specific pictures, videos and geographic position on a map by switching between the right hand side widow’s tabs. This is the media interface.
    At the bottom of the interface is a drop down Timetable where all relevant data belonging to the entity can be viewed in sliding timeline. By clicking on an event in the left hand column, that even is highlighted in the timeline, showing its location. Naturally this works in reverse as well. Click on an event in the timeline and see its corresponding entity in the left had column of the interface.
  • Connection between the various elements of the interface: By clicking on any of the light green text elements in the left hand column, we can limit the information shown on the map, the timeline and the media interface to that one particular entity. For example if on John F. Kennedy’s data tab you click on the „Death: 22 November 1963, Parkland Hospital, assassination” line you will see on the map the location of Parkland hospital, on the timeline the date and on the media interface the images and videos relating to that event.
  • Depth of linked entities: This current release of iGlue provides on one layer of data depth, in other words you can only get information on the entities it recognizes in the text, in this example the New York Times Article. In subsequent releases of iGlue all elements of the chosen entity will be accessible information wise in new data tabs. In other words, staying with the example of Kennedy, in depth data (biographical, image, video and timeline wise) on any member of his family, associate, schools he attended, places he visited, etc.

Application areas of iGlue:

  • Information search and organization: Content creators and users can both benefit from high added value through the use of iGlue. In addition, thanks to the locally presented information, there is no need to leave the webpage to do a copy-paste operation in order to find information on the topic of interest. The organized presentation of data can be effective used in any number of fields such as education, research, culture or commerce.
  • Targeted advertising: By understanding the text elements themselves better targeted, user interest specific advertising becomes possible.
  • Joint utilization of ’info-bricks’: The iGlue semantic database is ideal for collaborative expansion, and thanks to the portability of its data junctions it is an ideal tool for application where repetitive and voluminous data needs to be processed, such as in institutional databases (governmental and corporate), collections (such as libraries) and large databases (geographic, research, etc.).

iGlue can even incorporate the data matrix it builds into a larger network net, what we could call the collective intelligence of the internet. In other words the machine learns from what we post on the web, so that in the end we may learn from it, as presented by the organized coherent content of iGlue.

Our goal is the creation if a tool that allows the creation of an information galaxy in place of a web built of small, individual data-islands. The creation of a tool that is open to and is expendable by all people who value the freedom of the creative process.

Compatibility:

This current release of the iGlue product demonstrator requires one of the following browsers:

  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Chrome
  • Explorer

Current state of completion:

This release of iGlue can be considered an Alpha version (it only hints at many of the functions that will become available shortly.)

In the mean time we would love to receive any and all feedback from users on the current state of iGlue. We are also interested in features requests. Feedback can be posted here in the blog or sent to in4 at in4.hu. Thank you.

Development team

iGlue is developed by in4, Ltd. a Hungarian company. ( www.in4.hu ),
Contact us: in4@in4.hu

in4, Ltd. is backed by Power of the Dream Venture Inc., a public corporation – Ticker symbol PWRV ( www.pdv.hu )