Peter F. Patel-Schneider, pfps@research.bell-labs.com
The Semantic Web is based on a "tower" of ever-more-powerful languages that allow computers to automatically represent and process the information needed to bring about this vision. Unfortunately, there are problems in the Semantic Web vision. These problems started with the properties of the various languages but currently have mostly to do with the placement of the various languages and the relationships between them. These problems started to show up with the development of the OWL Web Ontology Language but are even more severe when rules are added to the Semantic Web.
A basis for the Semantic Web that provides a problem-free place for rules and other even-more-powerful languages requires a fundamental revision of the way the Semantic Web is put together. One such basis involves separating the syntax of the Semantic Web from its semantics. In this way rules and other languages can easily be incorporated into the Semantic Web without the problems encountered in the past.
The Semantic Web is an extension of the current web in which information is given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation. [Berners-Lee et al, 2001]
Condition [in Context] [produces Result]
I am not really interested in the above options in this talk. Instead, I am interested on which kind(s) of rules fit into the Semantic Web and how they should be defined.
What remains?