About this Episode
* Subject
Ontolog Mini-Series: "Database and Ontology" Kick-off Panel Session with Dr. Matthew West (Program Lead), Dr. Tatiana Malyuta and Dr. Leo Obrst
* Date
Thursday, October 12, 2006
* ONTOLOG Forum session page (with agenda and link to slides)
http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?ConferenceCall_2006_10_12
* Session Abstract (by Matthew West)
Broadly ontologies describe what exists. Databases hold facts about what exists. It is therefore not surprising that ontology can help in the design of databases by having the design match reality more closely.
On the other hand ontologies are things about which we wish to hold information, and databases are powerful ways to store information so that it can be retrieved by many people, especially when there is structure to the information.
Different databases will have their own, sometimes implicit, ontologies. Identifying and mapping between these ontologies is key to data integration.
Finally, databases, whether for ontology tools or other applications, need to have a human interface. The use of ontology in design and implementation of the human computer interface can transform the utility of a system.
This mini-series will explore these interactions, how ontologies and databases are mutually supportive, and identify the main issues people in these fields are grappling with.
* Pertinent Issues we might explore during this and subsequent sessions:
o 1. How does ontology improve database design?
o 2. What is there beyond ontology in database design?
o 3. How do you design a database to manage an ontology?
o 4. What are the limitations of databases in supporting ontologies?
o 5. How do you discover the ontology implicit in a database?
o 6. How do you map between ontologies?
o 7. How does ontology help with the design and implementation of human computer interfaces?
o 8. What are the key challenges in developing human computer interfaces using ontologies?
* Talk Titles and Abstracts:
** Improving Database utilization with Ontology - Dr. Tatiana Malyuta
Abstract: Databases do not provide open and explicit descriptions of data semantics. This prevents efficient, qualitative, and automated data utilization. Ontology, as an open and standard semantics provider, can help in resolving the problems of data utilization. Issues of building a productive relationship between Ontology and Database are discussed.
** Ontologies and Databases: Similarities and Differences - Dr. Leo Obrst
Abstract: Ontologies and databases have much in common, but there are many differences too. Databases focus on local semantics that have only aspects of the real world, typically keep that semantics implicit, use logic structurally, and their schemas are not generally reusable. Ontologies focus on global semantics of the real world, make that semantics explicit and machine interpretable by using a logic-based modeling language, and are reusable as true models of a portion of the world.
** Ontology in Database Design - Dr. Matthew West
Abstract: Databases hold information. The information is about things. What things there are is at the heart of ontology. Some key concerns of database design, and how ontology can help are presented.
