SU – Semantic Web March 26, 2010
Posted by afoote in : Information Systems, Knowledge Management , trackbackIn a recent book, Pull: The Power of the Semantic Web to Transform your Business, by David Seigel, the author looks at the future of the web. The author presents a future where the web is built around the individual and starts from the individual having a personal data locker site. The personal data locker site contains the relevant information on the individual including name, address, family and work. The web site would also contain friends, work interests and hobbies. This sounds very similar to Facebook and other social networking sites, but instead of the user searching to make connections, the web would make connections with the user. Such as if the user indicates that there is an interest in computer programming in Java, the web would offer to connect the user with others interested in Java. If the user indicated on her personal data site that she was looking for a new Microsoft PC, the web would connect her to companies selling PCs. Instead of the user searching for companies that sell PCs and possibly missing some very good deals, all PC sellers would be connecting with her. This style of web is referred to as the semantic web or web 3.0. It does not appear that the complete internet will magically change to this organization next week, but there are changes occurring that are pushing the web in that direction.
From a Stevenson University perspective, the idea of creating a personal data locker and permitting users (students) to have all the needed information from that site could begin with Blackboard. Currently all students have accounts on blackboard and from that site they access their class information. Everything from the course syllabus to submitting assignments is on blackboard. This includes tests, discussion boards, calendars and powerpoint presentations are maintained on blackboard. What is not on blackboard are the tech connection, library services, career services, student advising, registrar services and registering for courses. Those applications are on the college website and as commented in previous blogs are very difficult for students to access. The new version of blackboard presents some valuable options for the application, but it is also an opportunity to change the information that students have available.
Another option for the idea of a personal data locker is a new data portal application that is being discussed. This data portal provides a dashboard configuration so that students can access course information from blackboard, needed student services from the university website and email. Hopefully access can be obtained without having to login in to the various applications. One login that will pass security information between all the interfaces would be very useful. This data portal application is being considered for next school year. If students could get a connection with course information, the library, tech connection, career services, registrar services, course scheduling, advising and email from one starting application, it could be the beginning of Stevenson moving towards web 3.0.
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