Semantic DesktopSemantic Desktop

• Getting semantics to help on the desktop may be THE challenge for Graphical User Interfaces in the next decade

• Desktop semantics offer some general protection of privacy- Searching- Information Management

• New ways to think about Personal Information Management

• When we say “Desktop” do we mean “Personalization” or “Knowledge Management”?

Personal Information CloudPersonal Information Cloud

• Vander Wal’s Model of Attraction- Your information has structure (and you understand it)- You are more involved with it in different contexts on

different devices at different times- Re-using information (see contexts) is key

• The current Web is (mostly) not like this- Stateless, memberships, non-open formats- You have to go to your information

• Information should come to you, transparent of location- Re-use of information easier with structure & retrieval- Native understanding of user needs (it’s your information)- Metadata can be added explicitly or implicitly

The Cloud that follows YouThe Cloud that follows You

• Information stays attracted to you

• Sync, contextual portability are key

• This key is enabled by semantics- Of the information- Of your situation

Personal InfoCloud issuesPersonal InfoCloud issues

• Are we talking about Personalization?• TBL’s Semantic Web Agents?• Yahoo’s (Social Computing) 360?

• How much control do you want to have?- Most people don’t even backup information or organize their

bookmarks- The one time we organize our information?

• For taxes. Do we need a Certified Public Information Cloudist?

• What are the impacts for information system Designers?- User defined metadata & its (user contextual) appearance- Lightweight semantics universally accepted

Semantic Desktop OutlookSemantic Desktop Outlook

• Lots of people are working on it- RDF on the desktop- Ontology (matching or syncing)- Desktop agents

• Web protocols work well on the desktop too- You already have a Web server installed on your computer,

why not use it?- MIME types, open formats, DOM scripting, logic running on

your own personal server

• Do you have to be a system administrator (now)?• Does RSS go against this trend?

Organic Semantic DesktopOrganic Semantic Desktop

• Where will the SD come from?• Is it winner take all?• Who has the better pull?- Server = Google- Client = Microsoft (Apple)

• Can it work like you do now?- What may need to be different?- Is different always better?

• Semantic Desktops connected to the Web, build the Semantic Web one user at a time

The usual (SD) suspectsThe usual (SD) suspects

• Memex• HyperCard• Haystack• Protégé (expanded)• Outlook ?• Small pieces (address books, email clients,

HTML documents)• Home Entertainment Media Hubs

Semantic Desktop Building BlocksSemantic Desktop Building Blocks

• Previously mentioned systems• Broadband, ubiquitous connectivity• Open source software

- Web technology- Open document formats

• New ways to store & organize information on the desktop- That might fight or confound current operating systems (file

structures, app interop)- Drag & Drop vs. Search & Sort- What about Attraction & Agents?- Finding & Reminding- Ontologies & Taxonomies that are scaled down to desktop

use & user mental models that change over time

Building Blocks diagramBuilding Blocks diagram

Enabling FrameworkEnabling Framework

• Central RDF Repository• Central Search• Adapters (Sync, xfer, conversion)• Ontologies• Context Capture• Pluggable Architecture

• How are these exemplified in SWT concepts we have discussed all semester?

Wiring the WebWiring the Web

- One view of using information if not semantically, at least more seamlessly

• We have XML (RSS), Web Services, Mashups• A “mesh” can form by using simple scripting

to wire components together- Can end-users build it?- What is the best metaphor to present it to users?

• How can users move beyond the model of working with information of the server, by the server & for the server ?- Because I thought it was all about the users

A Clipboard of the Web?A Clipboard of the Web?

• How can people move information around between uses; among different Web sites & services or even for contextual use on their own computers?

• “Copy & Paste” needs a new metaphor then- Apple tried “Publish & Subscribe”- Isn’t subscribe what we say for (RSS) feeds now?

• Live Clipboard- “ because we view “live” efforts as those providing users

with seamless end-to-end scenarios that “just work” by weaving together the best of software and the best of services. “ Ozzie 2006

• What do you think?- Marketing spin?- A (desperate) attempt to keep you liking the desktop?- A bad metaphor and not very sophisticated interface model?

PresentationsPresentations

• 10 minutes + questions• Any or all of the members may present• Demonstration of the project• Link to working demonstration that stays live for a

week+• Explanation of project ideas & technologies by using

readings & discussions from class this semester• References, Bibliography of ideas & projects you

were inspired or built upon