Ontolog Mini-Series: Database and Ontology - Kick-off Panel Session - Thu 12-Oct-2006    (QJP)

Conference Call Details    (QNV)

Attendees    (QO9)

Background    (QOJ)

This is the first event of a mini-series of talks and discussions the revolve around the topic: "Database and Ontology" during which this community will explore the landscape, issues and interactions between databases and ontologies.    (QOK)

This is a community-driven set of activities, and is probably long overdue. On 15-Aug-2006, TatianaMalyuta (who just joined the community after participating at our 23-Jul-2006 face-to-face workshop at Stanford, brought up her request for the Ontolog to delve into the subject of "Database and Ontologiy." An almost unprecedented flurry of online responses were received from the community. It was decided that we could systematically pursue the subject by mounting a mini-series on the matter at hand.    (QOL)

A planning meeting for this mini-series took place on 31-Aug-2006. MatthewWest was invited to champion the effort, and a "Program & Technical Advisory Team" was form, comprising of MatthewWest (Lead), AdrianWalker, AtillaElci, ChrisPartridge, LeoObrst, PeterYim, SusieStephens & TatianaMalyuta.    (QOM)

See also: DatabaseAndOntology (the 'project' homepage for this mini-series)    (QON)

Agenda & Proceedings    (QOO)

Topic: Database and Ontology - Mini-series Kick-off Panel Session    (QOQ)

Broadly ontologies describe what exists. Databases hold facts about what exists. It is therefore not surprising that ontology can help in the design of databases by having the design match reality more closely.    (QOS)

On the other hand ontologies are things about which we wish to hold information, and databases are powerful ways to store information so that it can be retrieved by many people, especially when there is structure to the information.    (QOT)

Different databases will have their own, sometimes implicit, ontologies. Identifying and mapping between these ontologies is key to data integration.    (QOU)

Finally, databases, whether for ontology tools or other applications, need to have a human interface. The use of ontology in design and implementation of the human computer interface can transform the utility of a system.    (QOV)

This mini-series will explore these interactions, how ontologies and databases are mutually supportive, and identify the main issues people in these fields are grappling with.    (QOW)

Questions, Answers & Discourse:    (QPP)

Session Recording of this Panel Session    (QQ0)

 (Thanks to BobSmith and PeterYim for their help with getting the session recorded.  =ppy)    (QQ1)