On 10/21/10 11:56 PM, Martin Hepp wrote:
Hi all:
I think that Enrico really made two very important points:
1. The LOD bubbles diagram has very high visibility inside and outside
of the community (up to the point that broad audiences believe the
diagram would define relevance or quality).
True re. visibility.
Subjective quality bearer, I think not :-)
2. Its creators have a special responsibility (in particular as
scientists) to maintain the diagram in a way that enhances insight and
understanding, rather than conveying false facts and confusing people.
Methinks creators executed on a marketing plan. Personally, I enjoy the
fact that people otherwise tagged as "geeks" have ended up demonstrated
potent marketing prowess, really.
So Kingsley's argument that anybody could provide a better diagram
does not really hold.
Uh?
I said: more diagrams, each addressing a specific realm of interest (and
bias) here are some examples:
1. http://linkedopencommerce.com -- you know about this one clearly
2.
http://www.mkbergman.com/wp-content/themes/ai3/images/2009Posts/090212_lodd_cloud.jpg
3. http://umbel.org/images/081010_lod_constellation.png -- UMBEL (TBox
oriented)
4. http://www.mquter.qut.edu.au/bio/bio2rdf.jpg -- Bio2RDF
5.
http://virtuoso.openlinksw.com/dataspace/dav/wiki/Main/ClickableVirtSpongerCloud/sponger-cloud.png
-- Old Dynamic Linked Data Cloud via Sponger (URIBurner in current LOD
cloud) .
It will harm the community as a whole, sooner or later, if the diagram
misses the point, simply based on the popularity of this diagram.
How does a single diagram define a community? IMHO attacking those that
have made contributions that have become popular says more about
problems in our community.
We really have to make up our minds what we want here. Everyone is
entitled to their own biases (context lenses) that's the fundamental
beauty of the Web, especially the Linked Data variant that's rapidly
taking shape.
Until the Web stops us from projecting our individual biases, I stand by
my position i.e., let a million LOD cloud variants rain :-)
I strongly encourage you to make an alternative pictorial that addresses
the areas that concern you. Of course, if their is language that may
concern you re. the report from Chris, then that's a different matter
re. potentially for deeming the LOD cloud pictorial as canonical.
And to be frank, despite other design decisions, it is really
ridiculous that Chris justifies the inclusion of Denny's numbers
dataset as valid Linked Data, because that dataset is, by design and
known to everybody in the core community, not data but noise.
Do you really believe that most powerpoint viewers actually drill down
this deep into the pictorial?
When people ask be about the cloud i.e., what does it signify etc. My
answer goes like this: Linked Data exists on the Web, and that its on a
discernible exponential curve (meaning critical mass to VCs and suits).
I don't make any statements about "subjective quality". If people ask:
how is this going to affect business models? I show them the Linked Open
Commerce cloud collection, and they get it, pronto!
Pronto! implying there's money to be made, but biz models remains fuzzy
since Linked Data QoS factors haven't really crystallized due to basic
Linked Data concept remaining mercurial to comprehend. Thus, you get
your typical powerpoint effect: seed planted, hockey stick potential is
sorta there, now let me go figure how to make this
less-fuzzy-web-opportunity my own money making reality etc..
This is the "linked data landfill" mindset that I have kept on
complaining about. You make it very easy for others to discard the
idea of linked data as a whole.
Come on!
Seriously, where would Linked Data be without the LOD cloud pictorial
re. mindshare acquisition?
Let's just make more realm / bias specific pictorials and and associated
data set analysis reports so that newly uncovered Linked Data dimensions
go viral like the LOD cloud. Thus, I can only agree with you once you've
taken corrective action :-)
Best
Martin
--
Regards,
Kingsley Idehen
President& CEO
OpenLink Software
Web: http://www.openlinksw.com
Weblog: http://www.openlinksw.com/blog/~kidehen
Twitter/Identi.ca: kidehen
