BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The subject of ontologies has received little or no attention outside the academic world. And yet it is already being used at the centre of some very major software developments. For example, in building the infrastructure for the Space Mission Systems of the next century - representing some of the most complex software systems in Europe - the European Space Agency is exploring the use of ontologies for the representation and exchange of mission knowledge. But how many people know what an ontology is?
Simply put, an ontology is a structured definition of the terms, and relationships between the terms, within a particular domain. This simple definition belies the power behind the concept. Ontologies have a major contribution to make to some of the most important issues in the software industry, such as reuse, interoperability, distributed processing and standards. There is also the possibility of a potentially huge market in packaged ontologies, although this is still a speculative concept.
This tutorial and seminar by UNICOM are the first events to present the topic from an industrial viewpoint. The aim of the tutorial is to provide attendees with a thorough understanding of the concepts and technology behind ontologies, and how and where they should be used. The objective of the Seminar is to explore in more detail the relevance of ontologies to the three themes of reuse, interoperability and distributed processing.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Technical Directors of Software Houses IT Consultants IT Strategy Planners R&D Directors
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
The complexities of the Space Mission Systems of tomorrow foreshadow the complexities of future business and industrial systems.Anyone planning or advising on the future IT infrastructure of a large corporation needs to start tracking ontologies - and these events are an ideal starting point. Suppliers of large, complex software packages also need to track the technology of ontologies since they could play a major role in the evolution of such packages. They could also represent a brand new business opportunity: packaged ontologies for vertical domains, around which different packages - from different vendors - could be built, with the assurance that they would all interoperate. Consider the strength of the market position of - and potential profits for! - the owner of such an ontology in a key domain, such as banking or process control. SEMINAR (November 7 1995)
The Impact of Ontologies on Reuse, Interoperability and Distributed Processing
Session One: Ontologies in Practice
1. What is an ontology and how would you use one? Professor N.J.I. Mars, University of Twente.
What is an ontology? How would you use an ontology to design software systems (and in particular knowledge-based systems)? How would you use an ontology to facilitate sharing and reuse of knowledge assets? How can an ontology be designed? How can the quality of an ontology be assessed? Practical experiences and illustrations.
2. Overview of ontologies in use. Professor B.J. Wielinga
Why ontologies are useful. Examples of projects that use ontologies. Libraries of ontologies. Ontologies as vehicles for reuse of knowledge.
Session Two: Ontologies, Standards and Interoperability
1. Interoperability and reuse of an ontology in electrical networks. Dr. Amaia Bernaras, LABEIN, Spain
Introduction to the electrical network domain. Why are ontologies useful? From ontologies to standards. Interoperability: Diagnosis and Service Recovery Planning applications. On the Usability of Reusable Ontologies.
2. Achieving interoperability in the Enterprise Project. Mike Uschold, AIAI
A description of the Enterprise Project. The Enterprise ontology. How the ontology allows different tools to interoperate.
Session Three: Achieving Reuse via Ontologies
1. Knowledge reuse in technical domains: the KACTUS Project. Rob Martil, Lloyds Register
Introduction to Lloyds Register and the ship structures problem domain. The approach taken by the Kactus Project Goal/Solution scenario. Ontology development experiences Interoperability experiences Re-use possibilities
2. Knowledge reuse in business domains: experience with IBM BSDM. Martin King, IBM UK
The need for reuse in business. The evolution of business (Enterprise) modelling. Experience with IBM BSDM. Experience of model reuse. Enhancing modelling with ontology approaches. The future outlook.
Session Four: Ontological Glue in Distributed Agent Systems
1. Ontologies within the Knowledge Sharing Effort Project. Michael Grunninger, University of Toronto
The scope and major elements of the Knowledge Sharing Effort. The role of Ontologies and Ontolingua. The Process Interchange Format Project The big picture for future software development environments.
2. Prospective applications of ontologies for future space missions. Joe Wheadon, ESA
Some ESA studies which have used Ontologies. Perceived problems and limitations in the development and use of ontologies. A look into the future: Areas of application for further study.
SEMINAR CHAIRMAN Alex Goodall has over twenty years experience in the computer industry, mostly working with leading-edge technologies. In 1980 he formed one of the very first companies to commercialise expert systems. He now runs a specialist publishing and consulting company -AI Intelligence- that focuses on commercial AI developments in Europe. His publications include the newsletter AI Watch and specialist reports on AI technologies. He has also undertaken consultancy assignments for large corporations and government bodies to help formulate their strategies concerning advanced software technologies. He has been appointed as the Co-ordinator of the recently formed Euroknowledge Association which is concerned with KBS standards.
TUTORIAL (November 6 1995)
ONTOLOGIES: Principles, Applications and Opportunities
What is an ontology? What are the origins of the concepts and technologies? Why are ontologies needed? How mature is the technology of ontologies? What major issues are still being researched? How are ontologies used? When would you consider using an ontology? How would you go about building and using an ontology? How will ontologies impact mainstream software development? Is there or will there be a marketfor ontology products?
Presented by:
Mike Uschold, AIAI Edinburgh
Michael Grunninger, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto.
Enquiries (including your full mailing address) to the person below:
***************************************************** * No sky in the world is as blue as the Greek sky...* ***************************************************** * * * Ted Lelekas * * Events Commissioner * * UNICOM Seminars * * * * Brunel Science Park * * Cleveland Road * * Uxbridge * * Middlesex UB8 3PH * * * * Tel. +44 (0) 1895 256 484 * * Fax. +44 (0) 1895 813 095 * * e-mail: ted@unicom.demon.co.uk * *****************************************************