Companies, especially those with an advanced technology infrastructure, often struggle with this question. Should we push our applications or the underlying technology. That’s one of the questions that Paul Miller takes on in a summary of a panel on commercializing the semantic web. The following section summarizes my own feelings
Neither users nor investors are particularly interested in being pitched with ‘the Semantic Web’ or ‘RDF’ or ‘triples’; they want applications and solutions. The fact that the Semantic Web is at work behind the scenes to make those applications and solutions ‘better’, cheaper, more scalable or whatever is clearly important, but shouldn’t be the opening gambit in conversation.
If you don’t understand the applications you are always leaving yourself open to the “so what” question. This philosophy is not exclusive to the Semantic Web, but in cases where the technology gets overhyped, you have to be even more cautious. However, depending on your audience, don’t forget the technology either, especially if that is your core competency, just remember that technology solves problems and without a problem the coolest tech is not worth much.
Technorati Tags: Semantic Web, Commercialization
4 Comments
Hy from Zemanta!
Have to say that the tool you are using to zemify your blog posts is made on exactly same presumption – although heavy technology including semantics is in the background, users are never exposed to it. Technology just tries to “do what blogger means”.
Hope you are happy with the tool, if you have any additional ideas of how Zemanta service could help you, send us a mail!
Andraz, CTO at Zemanta
I vote for keeping it in the background. Sometimes when you unleash the beast it makes everyones job harder.
Hy from Zemanta!
Have to say that the tool you are using to zemify your blog posts is made on exactly same presumption – although heavy technology including semantics is in the background, users are never exposed to it. Technology just tries to “do what blogger means”.
Hope you are happy with the tool, if you have any additional ideas of how Zemanta service could help you, send us a mail!
Andraz, CTO at Zemanta
I vote for keeping it in the background. Sometimes when you unleash the beast it makes everyones job harder.
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