The semantic web: what for?.

XML and the Semantic Web from 10,000 Feet by Eric Hanson [Xtof via Gilles]

A nice quick overview of what the semantic web might mean, probably much more readable than any academic paper I've seen on the topic.

[Seb's Open Research]
8:19:37 PM  #  

Keeping Online Reputations Fair. This paper has [...] identified several scenarios (“ballot stuffing”, “bad-mouthing”, positive seller discrimination, negative seller discrimination, unfair ratings “flooding”) in which buyers and sellers can attempt to “rig” an online reputation reporting system to their advantage, resulting in biased reputation estimates, which do not accurately reflect the expected quality of service of a given seller. [Smart Mobs]
8:18:40 PM  #  

Information Convergence. Phil Wolff has some interesting speculations about the future of blogging in his post titled From .blog to converged client." An excerpt:

"Blogging is a form in transition.

Personally, I think blogging as a form will merge with all the other forms of digital expression. With email and IM first. With voice/video conferencing, streaming videos, browsing, and PowerPointing later.

Watch it change:

• as more people blog from their foto-mobiles
• as devices start to blog ("My car's day")
• as audiobloggers create radio shows and videobloggers create televsion programming
• as Sims characters start to blog.

Moving forward, see a convergent software client emerge.

Source: evanwolf group, 2002....

We're on our way. Blogging tools are starting to interact with email and sounds. PIMs are managing contact information across multiple applications. Community and collaboration features are as critical to games as traditional gameplay.

I'm calling it: 2003-2005 will see many clients converge, weblogs among them. The challenges? Immense. The rewards? Many and rich. The fun? Deep and lasting." [a klog apart]

Lots of implications. Lots of opportunities, especially for people that specialize in organizing information. Like, say, I don't know... librarians.

[The Shifted Librarian]
8:11:25 PM  #