Dave Robertsondr@inf.ed.ac.uk

Open Knowledge Sharingan introduction for everyone

www.openk.org

How the Worldwide Web Works

Search engine(e.g. Google)

Web browser(e.g. Mozilla)

Web browser(e.g. Internet explorer)

Web pages

Discovers pagesusing keywords

Accesses pages Accesses pages

Reads pages Reads pages

Hermoine and Harry can’t interact in a sophisticated way to share knowledge; they can only edit and read each other’s documents.

Hermoine and Harry can’t interact in a sophisticated way to share knowledge; they can only edit and read each other’s documents.

Most Knowledge is Locked Away

Most knowledge is locked within system components (e.g. database systems, handheld devices, sensor systems, etc) on peoples’ computers. You can only access this sort of knowledge via the interface to the component (where you supply it with input information or can request information as output).

Most knowledge is locked within system components (e.g. database systems, handheld devices, sensor systems, etc) on peoples’ computers. You can only access this sort of knowledge via the interface to the component (where you supply it with input information or can request information as output).

If you could look inside these components you would find mechanisms so complex that only their engineers understand them in detail. It is very difficult to specify precisely and reliably what knowledge each contains.

If you could look inside these components you would find mechanisms so complex that only their engineers understand them in detail. It is very difficult to specify precisely and reliably what knowledge each contains.

System component

Interface

Worldwide Web Components

Web browser

Formoutput

Interacts with form

Modern Web browsers can connect to complex components using a Web form interface. Instead of simply reading pages, Hermione can access a form produced by some complex system (about which she knows nothing); then she can send input to that system by completing the form and sending it back. The interaction is managed by a form interface that mediates between the language understood by the Web browser and the inputs/outputs understood by the complex component.

Modern Web browsers can connect to complex components using a Web form interface. Instead of simply reading pages, Hermione can access a form produced by some complex system (about which she knows nothing); then she can send input to that system by completing the form and sending it back. The interaction is managed by a form interface that mediates between the language understood by the Web browser and the inputs/outputs understood by the complex component.

Form interface

Forminput

This is a big improvement on simple Web pages but it only copes with one- to-one interactions. Hermione couldn’t interact with several coordinated components (or with Harry) in this way.

This is a big improvement on simple Web pages but it only copes with one- to-one interactions. Hermione couldn’t interact with several coordinated components (or with Harry) in this way.

Components on Components

Componentcoordinator

Interact with program

To allow more sophisticated coordination, people write programs that coordinate. If Hermione was clever enough to write one of these then she could use it to coordinate with Harry…

To allow more sophisticated coordination, people write programs that coordinate. If Hermione was clever enough to write one of these then she could use it to coordinate with Harry…

…but the component coordinator is a lot like any other component, so it is difficult for anyone else to find out about or use Hermione’s clever method for finding things out from all those components.

…but the component coordinator is a lot like any other component, so it is difficult for anyone else to find out about or use Hermione’s clever method for finding things out from all those components.

Thinking the Same Thing

Componentcoordinator

DesignDesign

Coordination is made even more difficult because the people who built the components (and the knowledge locked inside them) often come from different cultures. If Hermione wants to coordinate components designed by Imperial Stormtroopers from a distant galaxy then only some of the things they have in mind will be appropriate to her task – others may be wildly inappropriate.

Coordination is made even more difficult because the people who built the components (and the knowledge locked inside them) often come from different cultures. If Hermione wants to coordinate components designed by Imperial Stormtroopers from a distant galaxy then only some of the things they have in mind will be appropriate to her task – others may be wildly inappropriate.

This makes coordination brittle: it works well for some tasks but may fail for others because the knowledge being shared is so sensitive to the context in which it is being used.

This makes coordination brittle: it works well for some tasks but may fail for others because the knowledge being shared is so sensitive to the context in which it is being used.

Coordination is Knowledge

Interactioninterpreter

Interactionmodel

There are formal languages in which we can describe precisely the interaction we want. These descriptions are like Web pages (so we can invent ways to discover them, view them, etc) but they also are formal (so we can build programs that interpret them to run actual interactions).

There are formal languages in which we can describe precisely the interaction we want. These descriptions are like Web pages (so we can invent ways to discover them, view them, etc) but they also are formal (so we can build programs that interpret them to run actual interactions).

Now Hermione doesn’t need to write a new component coordinator every time she wants a different interaction with Harry. Instead she designs a (much simpler) interaction model and gives that to the interaction interpreter, which runs the model to give her the interaction she described.

Now Hermione doesn’t need to write a new component coordinator every time she wants a different interaction with Harry. Instead she designs a (much simpler) interaction model and gives that to the interaction interpreter, which runs the model to give her the interaction she described.

Design

Run

The OpenKnowledge Kernel

Download fromwww.openk.org

The OpenKnowledge kernel is a program you (and Hermione, and Harry) can download and easily install on your computer (it connects automatically to the appropriate interfaces).

The OpenKnowledge kernel is a program you (and Hermione, and Harry) can download and easily install on your computer (it connects automatically to the appropriate interfaces).

The kernel contains an interaction model interpreter plus several other things to help you interact with other people and with other components on the Internet.

The kernel contains an interaction model interpreter plus several other things to help you interact with other people and with other components on the Internet.

Inside the Kernel

Interactioninterpreter

Interactiondiscoverer

Ontologymatcher

Reputationcommunicator

The OpenKnowledge kernel contains several unusual things, as well as an interaction model interpreter. It has a way of helping to align the terminology used when interacting (we call this ontology matching). It has a way of discovering interaction models that other people have designed. It has a way of sharing information on the reputation of those involved in interactions.

The OpenKnowledge kernel contains several unusual things, as well as an interaction model interpreter. It has a way of helping to align the terminology used when interacting (we call this ontology matching). It has a way of discovering interaction models that other people have designed. It has a way of sharing information on the reputation of those involved in interactions.

The good news is that you don’t need to understand the details of how these work in order to use the kernel.

The good news is that you don’t need to understand the details of how these work in order to use the kernel.

Discovering InteractionsSuppose that Harry wants to develop a new spell but doesn’t know how. He uses the OpenKnowledge discovery mechanism to search across the network of other OpenKnowledge subscribers.

Suppose that Harry wants to develop a new spell but doesn’t know how. He uses the OpenKnowledge discovery mechanism to search across the network of other OpenKnowledge subscribers.

Hermione has an extensive database of spell recipes and she has written an interaction model that allows a group of people to access the database and agree on their own, new spell.

Hermione has an extensive database of spell recipes and she has written an interaction model that allows a group of people to access the database and agree on their own, new spell.

Network connectingOpenKnowledge usersvia the Internet

Harry asks thediscovery systemto seek interactionson “spell design”.

group spellinteraction

It finds one onHermione’s list ofinteraction models

and passesit to Harry.

Harry’sOK kernel

Ron’sOK kernel

Hermione’sOK kernel

Interacting

group spellinteraction

Harry advertises the fact that he is interested in taking the role of “spell collator” in the interaction he got from Hermione.

Harry advertises the fact that he is interested in taking the role of “spell collator” in the interaction he got from Hermione.

Ron and Hermione offer to take part, each in the role of “spell advisor”.

Ron and Hermione offer to take part, each in the role of “spell advisor”.

Then Harry’s OK kernel coordinates the interaction with Ron and Hermione’s kernels.

Then Harry’s OK kernel coordinates the interaction with Ron and Hermione’s kernels.

Agreement

Coordination

Re-using Interactions

group spellinteraction

Since Hermione made her interaction model public, then Malfoy can discover it (just like Harry did) and use it to help him design spells with Snape and Gilderoy.

Since Hermione made her interaction model public, then Malfoy can discover it (just like Harry did) and use it to help him design spells with Snape and Gilderoy.

If it turns out to be really useful then lots of other wizarding folk will use it – a bit like the way that popular Web pages get used.

If it turns out to be really useful then lots of other wizarding folk will use it – a bit like the way that popular Web pages get used.

Choosing Your PartnersWhat prevents Hermione agreeing to interact with Snape and Malfoy (who doubtless want to cook up an evil spell)? Before she agrees, she can check the OpenKnowledge identifiers for the other people playing roles in the interaction.

What prevents Hermione agreeing to interact with Snape and Malfoy (who doubtless want to cook up an evil spell)? Before she agrees, she can check the OpenKnowledge identifiers for the other people playing roles in the interaction.

Agreement?

?

To help her decide we invented a way of sharing information about interactions judged “good” or “bad” – a bit like ranking pages on the Web.

To help her decide we invented a way of sharing information about interactions judged “good” or “bad” – a bit like ranking pages on the Web.

Spotting Dubious Characters

What happens if Harry turns bad and starts misbehaving when interacting with others? How would we detect him?

What happens if Harry turns bad and starts misbehaving when interacting with others? How would we detect him?

That’s where popularity monitoring services (fed with data on “good” and “bad” interactions) can help, in a way similar to Web page popularity rating services. These help you guess how good someone else might be given the experiences of others and are approximate guides only

That’s where popularity monitoring services (fed with data on “good” and “bad” interactions) can help, in a way similar to Web page popularity rating services. These help you guess how good someone else might be given the experiences of others and are approximate guides only

but if you are particularly worried about trust for some interaction you want to design then you can build more specific safeguards into your interaction model.

but if you are particularly worried about trust for some interaction you want to design then you can build more specific safeguards into your interaction model.

Different Names; Same Thing

Voldemort

The Dark Lord

He Who Must Not be Named

group spellinteraction

When Hermione designed her interaction model she used “Voldemort” to refer to the most evil person in the wizarding world. Other people who might use her interaction model will have different ways of naming that person (and of naming lots of other things, perhaps). That’s why we provide a mechanism for guessing when the thing referred to in an interaction is the same, even though the names are different.

When Hermione designed her interaction model she used “Voldemort” to refer to the most evil person in the wizarding world. Other people who might use her interaction model will have different ways of naming that person (and of naming lots of other things, perhaps). That’s why we provide a mechanism for guessing when the thing referred to in an interaction is the same, even though the names are different.

Knowing the interaction makes these guesses more likely to be accurate. “The Dark Lord” probably wouldn’t be the same as “Voldemort” outside of wizarding world interactions.

Knowing the interaction makes these guesses more likely to be accurate. “The Dark Lord” probably wouldn’t be the same as “Voldemort” outside of wizarding world interactions.

Who Designs Interactions?

Do you have to be as disciplined as an Imperial Stormtrooper and as clever as Hermione to design an interaction model?

Do you have to be as disciplined as an Imperial Stormtrooper and as clever as Hermione to design an interaction model?

If you want to be able to build absolutely any interaction model then the answer is (gulp) “yes”. However…

If you want to be able to build absolutely any interaction model then the answer is (gulp) “yes”.However…

There are ways of translating from styles of interaction description that lots of people use for more specific tasks (such as business process modelling). If you are one of those kinds of people then you can use your style of description and translate into the OpenKnowledge language.

There are ways of translating from styles of interaction description that lots of people use for more specific tasks (such as business process modelling). If you are one of those kinds of people then you can use your style of description and translate into the OpenKnowledge language.

Alternatively you could be like Harry and simply use the interactions that Hermione has so cleverly written. Then you can forget all about designing them.

Alternatively you could be like Harry and simply use the interactions that Hermione has so cleverly written. Then you can forget all about designing them.

Useful Things People Might Do With All This Technology

OpenKnowledge does something new: it allows people to share interactions and, through those, share knowledge that isn’t easily accessed on the traditional Worldwide Web. It will only become revolutionary, however, if clever people invent interactions that are really useful for lots of other people. Here are some of the ideas we’ve been developing.

OpenKnowledge does something new: it allows people to share interactions and, through those, share knowledge that isn’t easily accessed on the traditional Worldwide Web. It will only become revolutionary, however, if clever people invent interactions that are really useful for lots of other people. Here are some of the ideas we’ve been developing.

• Help scientists studying proteins to share methods of analysis and data collation so they can make new discoveries faster.

• Give organisations that respond to emergencies ways of sharing information in a more opportunistic but still coordinated way.

• Share pictures in ways that allow groups of people to interact with their collective “library”.

• Turn centralised business models into distributed models.

• Supply more flexible ways of bringing medical knowledge closer to points of care.

Perhaps you will have better ideas. The very best ideas might be (technically) quite simple.

Perhaps you will have better ideas. The very best ideas might be (technically) quite simple.

www.openk.org supplies you with deeper discussion, examples and free source code.

www.openk.org supplies you with deeper discussion, examples and free source code.