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Re: [ontolog-forum] More on Watson

To: ontolog-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: Krzysztof Janowicz <jano@xxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:05:55 -0500
Message-id: <4D627F53.9050706@xxxxxxx>
Dear Ron,    (01)

> Yes That is the question.
> I don't know the answer but if this group can not figure it out, we
> might as well pack up and go home.    (02)

I could not agree more.    (03)

> My initial "contribution" is that cases where certainty rather that
> probability is required is a place where ontology has an edge.
> Where the problem space is small enough that an ontology can be
> constructed and validated in a reasonable amount of time and resources
> is a prerequisite.
> Having some stability in the problem space is probably required.    (04)

I prefer to think of ontologies taking the role of communication 
interfaces. The geo-sciences, for instance, use numeric models that will 
not be replaced (for many reasons) with ontologies soon. However, we do 
not communicate with statistical models but using domain vocabularies 
and this is were ontology comes into play. I think the discussion about 
dwarf planets is an excellent example and there are many more. I also 
believe that ontologies will be especially useful when they capture 
*local* conceptualizations (see John's argumentation some days ago). I 
used a funny real-world example about potholes to emphasize this aspect: 
http://iospress.metapress.com/content/636610536x307213/fulltext.pdf    (05)

[I agree with John that we should not change the thread title because it 
make following the discussion much more difficult.]    (06)

Best,
Krzysztof    (07)


On 02/21/2011 09:31 AM, Ron Wheeler wrote:
> On 21/02/2011 8:44 AM, Krzysztof Janowicz wrote:
>>> I am interested in how this will help clarify the field of ontology.
>>> It should remove a few of the areas of practical applicability and
>>> perhaps help to focus attention on the areas where ontology is the right
>>> starting point for building applications rather than starting with the
>>> technologies that make up Watson.
>> yes, but what are the challenges 'where ontology is the right
>> starting point'?
>>
> Yes That is the question.
> I don't know the answer but if this group can not figure it out, we
> might as well pack up and go home.
>
> My initial "contribution" is that cases where certainty rather that
> probability is required is a place where ontology has an edge.
> Where the problem space is small enough that an ontology can be
> constructed and validated in a reasonable amount of time and resources
> is a prerequisite.
> Having some stability in the problem space is probably required.
>
>
>
> Ron
>> Best,
>> Krzysztof
>>
>>
>>
>> On 02/21/2011 08:14 AM, Ron Wheeler wrote:
>>> As an IBM Partner in the e-Learning space (we sell the Saba LMS as does
>>> IBM), I get regular e-mails about sales opportunities, technical updates
>>> and general management ideas.
>>>
>>> Today I received a bit on Watson that I can share with you.
>>>
>>> http://www-943.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/what-is-watson/index.html
>>> describes different aspects of the Watson project and gives a bit of a
>>> hint as to where IBM thinks that it can be applied next.
>>>
>>> According to IBM
>>> "Watson represents a tremendous breakthrough in computers understanding
>>> natural language, "real language" that is not specially designed and
>>> encoded just for computers, but language humans use to naturally capture
>>> and communicate knowledge. Much of the technology that comprises Watson
>>> is commercially available today. IBM has added custom software and
>>> algorithms to help it meet the Jeopardy! Challenge from Information
>>> Management, Hadoop, Eclipse and DB2. "
>>>
>>> Be the first on your block to have your own Watson.
>>> Anyone need one? I can put you at the top of my list of sales prospects.;-)
>>>
>>> As I get more details, I will try to share the interesting bits.
>>>
>>> I am interested in how this will help clarify the field of ontology.
>>> It should remove a few of the areas of practical applicability and
>>> perhaps help to focus attention on the areas where ontology is the right
>>> starting point for building applications rather than starting with the
>>> technologies that make up Watson.
>>>
>>>
>>> Ron
>>>
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>
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>
>    (08)


-- 
Krzysztof Janowicz    (09)

GeoVISTA Center, Department of Geography, 302 Walker Building
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA    (010)

Email: jano@xxxxxxx
Webpage: http://www.personal.psu.edu/kuj13/
Semantic Web Journal: http://www.semantic-web-journal.net    (011)


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