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OLnet


Semantic Web and Knowledge Services  
Open Learning Network

The aim of OLnet is to tackle gathering evidence and methods about how we can research and understand ways to learn in a more open world, particularly linked to Open Educational Resources (OER) but also looking at other influences. We want to gather evidence together but also spot the ideas that people see emerging from the opportunities.

Participant(s): Michelle Bachler

Project Champion: Simon Buckingham Shum
Further Information Email | Simon Buckingham Shum


URL: http://olnet.org/
 
The Open University KMi Event | SSSW08 Website | ECIR 2010 | 32nd European Conference on Information Retrieval | 28th - 31st March 2010
 

Semantic Web and Knowledge Services is...


Semantic Web and Knowledge Services
"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).

Our research in the Semantic Web research area looks at the potentials of fusing together advances in a range of disciplines, and applying them in a systemic way to simplify the development of intelligent, knowledge-based web services and to facilitate human access and use of knowledge available on the web. For instance, we are exploring ways in which text mining and natural language processing technologies can be harnessed to support smart annotation of web resources and new forms of web navigation, which go beyond following simple hypertextual links. We are developing infrastructures to support rapid development and deployment of semantic web services, which can be used to create web applications on-the-fly. We are also investigating ways in which semantic technology can support learning on the web, through a combination of knowledge representation support, pedagogical theories and intelligent content aggregation mechanisms.

Our aim is to be at the forefront of both theoretical and practical developments on the Semantic Web not only by developing theories and models, but also by building concrete applications, for a variety of domains and user communities, including KMi and the Open University itself.