Semantic Web buzz building momentum

An increase in the frequency of Semantic Web articles over the last 7 to 14 days suggests in the next 12 months this topic may capture the buzz in the tech world. Semantic web development previously garnered some coverage, but I notice an uptick.

Times Online offers an interview with Tim Berners-Lee in which he makes the point that the Semantic web potentially minimizes Google. I agree that translating the Semantic Web vision to usable and widely disseminated service returns search from the primary entry point to its role as a reference librarian. In other words ,not for use when looking for everyday things but rather specified knowledge that exists beyond the individual's expertise. A much narrower scope than entry point to the entire web.

This possibility of disintermediating Google turned into a headline by Drudge, increasing its exposure. Other articles, including this one on CNET soon pushed off of the sematic web displaces Google hypothesis. Interestingly, they pulled somewhat dated (2006) quotes from Google director of research Peter Norvig. Perhaps the Googleplex still has a de facto ban on talking to CNET/News.com. Peter raises a number of interesting points, not least of which is the lack of incentive for competitors, particularly market leaders, to participate in a standardized system.

And finally the most in-depth and contextual piece of the 3 in the Financial Times.

New York Times on Text Messaging

Article views text messaging through the prism of a "generation" gap. Although when reading the article, youth leading the market seems a more precise interpretation . Parents and adults also embrace the medium, which fundamentally differs from a complete disconnect (which I think of as classically illustrated by the initial release of rock & roll music).

To me the most interesting and significant aspects from the people interviewed revolve around the value and uniqueness of mobile text messaging as a medium. They described it as "personal", and something in-between an email and a phone call. Text messaging is asyncrohonous yet immediate. Informal and concise. Coded abbreviations are the norm. This means all parties to a communication must have the code book. But it also means high efficiency of communication.

The fact that text messaging was not originally envisioned as a key consumer technology but rather as a method for the phone companies to send service messages, lends further credibility to its claim as an important medium.

As I've written before, we remain early in the innovation cycle for this humble yet powerful medium.