Sharing schemas: progress and future plans

A one-day workshop, 30th November 2001, The Hague, The Netherlands

Programme

09.15 Registration
10.00 Welcome + Review and future of SCHEMAS -Tony Hegarty, PwC
[HTML] [Powerpoint]
A look back at what SCHEMAS intended to achieve, how far the project has achieved its objectives, and a look forward to the future of shared metadata vocabularies and the Semantic Web.
10.30 Making sense of schemas -Thomas Baker, FHG
[HTML] [Powerpoint]
Metadata is like language -- it is based on vocabularies used in the context of particular schema grammars. Just as dictionaries provide reference tools for natural language, so registries can be used to share information about the semantics of metadata elements. To enable integrated access to Web resources on a grand scale, the W3C Semantic Web activity has defined the Resource Description Framework (RDF) as a common grammar for partially understanding the sheer diversity of metadata languages on the Web.
11.00 Coffee
11.30 Schemas in the real world: application profiles -Rachel Heery, UKOLN
[HTML] [Powerpoint]
The experience of implementation of resource discovery systems shows that customisation and localisation of standard metadata schemas is widespread. Using the concept of 'application profile' we suggest means to express such variants, and propose best practice guidelines.
12.00 Using the SCHEMAS Forum Registry -Manjula Patel, UKOLN
[HTML] [Powerpoint]
The SCHEMAS Registry contains several metadata element sets as well as a large number of activity reports which describe and comment on various metadata related activities and initiatives
12.15 From content processing to knowledge management, some prospects of the 6th Framework Programme -Pierre-Paul Sondag, EC
[HTML] [Powerpoint]
12.35 Lunch
14.00 Interoperability across metadata standards -Makx Dekkers, PwC
[HTML] [Powerpoint]
Different metadata standards use different elements, grammars (data models) and encoding formats. For the Semantic Web vision to be realised, these standards will need to interoperate. Work needs to be done, both on shared understanding of objectives as well as in finding appropriate technical mechanisms to underpin this interoperability. Some recent developments in cross-standard co-operation will be considered in the presentation.
14.30 Panel of domain experts (Erik Duval, Michael Day, Tony Hegarty, Rachel Heery, Tom Baker)
Some points for discussion:

how important is the Semantic Web vision in the perspective of the panel members (in general, in their domain, for their own work) and do they expect it to be realised soon?
what are the main challenges in the human understanding across standards and are there any existing or potential platforms to address these issues?
what are the main technical challenges and what do we need from W3C to address these?

15.00 Discussion and concluding remarks
15.30 Coffee

Announcement Bookings Accommodation Directions

Any questions about this event should be sent to events@ukoln.ac.uk

Maintained by: UK Office for Library and Information Networking (UKOLN)
Last updated: 22 January 2002