[topicmapmail] The Hindu Topic Maps.htm
Michel Biezunski
mb@coolheads.com
Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:14:15 -0500
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Jack, and everyone,
Here is a copy of the article Steve Newcomb
mentioned in "The Hindu".
Michel
===================================
Michel Biezunski
Coolheads Consulting
402 85th Street #5C
Brooklyn, New York 11209
Email:mb@coolheads.com
Web :http://www.coolheads.com
Voice: (718) 921-0901
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<font class=3Dstoryhead size=3D4 color=3Dblue><b> =20
Topic Maps =
=
=
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</b></font> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
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<p> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
<p align=3D'left'><center> =20
<font size=3D-2> =20
</font><br> =20
<img src=3D"../images/2002122300180201.jpg" align=3Dcenter width=3D"342" =
height=3D"251" border=3D1>
</center><p> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
NETSPEAK THIS time takes a look at the features of the emerging =
technology, Topic Maps projected as a tool to retrieve information in a =
more efficient and meaningful way.
<p align=3Djustify> =20
As mentioned several times, the problem today is not lack of information =
but an overload of it. Information on every conceivable subject is being =
generated on the Net and across various Intranets almost everyday. =
Locating/filtering proper and relevant information signals, weeding out =
irrelevant and useless information noise, from this ever-growing =
information base presents formidable challenges to information =
scientists as well as ordinary Net users.=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
Search engines, though helping us locate information sources, fail to =
give pointed/filtered information as they mechanically list out all the =
web pages that contain a search `string'. They have no mechanism that =
allows us to infer the relevance of a link before accessing the page =
contents. Another deficiency is that when we search for a particular =
topic, search engines are unable to provide us with proper sources that =
contain information related to the topic being searched.=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
We need information retrieval systems that bring out the knowledge; not =
just raw information; inherent in data stored at various sources. This =
becomes important for a knowledge-based organisation. In an =
organisation, different kinds of information get generated through web =
pages, reports, blogs, e-mails and other documents. An ordinary search =
result for a topic that just lists out some of the sources that contain =
a mention of this topic will not be sufficient. What is needed is a tool =
that can access the required knowledge from the multiple information =
sources available. Topic maps are designed to address this need.
<p align=3Djustify> =20
Topic Maps: The concept of topic maps is generally explained in terms of =
an index — like the subject index of a book. Apart from the topics =
with their locations, an index gives you some information on the =
relationships between various topics. In some indices one might have =
seen entries such as `see also' and `see this topic'.=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
A `see also' entry against a topic means that the topic we are looking =
for has some relationship to the topic referred to in the `see also' =
entry. Likewise, `see this topic' entry suggests that our topic is the =
same as the topic suggested in the `see also' entry. The point to note =
is that an index of a book not only helps us easily navigate, it also =
provides valuable insights on other topics discussed in the book. So, =
the index in a way represents some knowledge that is external to the =
book's content. This also implies that the index can be used for another =
book with similar content; we need only to change the page numbers in =
which various topics occur.=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
This concept of index applied to the realm of digital information =
resources is called topic maps. Like the book index, the main =
constituents of a topic map are the topic, its associations with other =
topics and the links in which these topics occur in the various =
information resources such as web, company reports and manuals. These =
three components — Topics, Association and Occurrences — are =
collectively called TAO of topic maps =
(<I>http://www.gca.org/papers/xmleurope2000/papers/s11-01.html</I>).=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
A topic map on Theory of Relativity may contain such topics as Albert =
Einstein, Scientist, Physics and the like. The topic map will also show =
the relationships among the different topics and links to the web and =
other resources that contain references to these topics.=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
This topic map will thus provide the user with a total picture of all =
the topics related to Theory of Relativity and the navigation mechanism =
that can effortlessly take him to all the relevant resources; no need to =
wander here and there in the cyberspace.=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
<font class=3Dsubsectionhead size=3D3 color=3Dred> =20
Topic Map syntax standard and examples
</font> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
To standardise the topic map creation process and to develop a proper =
topic map syntax, an organisation called TopicMaps.org =
(<I>http://www.topicmaps.org</I>) has been formed. The topic map format =
developed by this organisation is called XTM (XML Topic Maps — =
<I>http://www.topicmaps.org/xtm/index.html</I>). If you want to =
experiment with a topic map, check out <I><a =
href=3D"http://www.ontopia.net/omnigator/models/index.jsp">http://www.ont=
opia.net/omnigator/models/index.jsp</a> </I>that hosts many examples of =
topic maps. This site also hosts a free topic map navigator that can be =
used to read topic maps from your desktop (please note that this author =
has not yet tested this tool).
<p align=3Djustify> =20
<font class=3Dsubsectionhead size=3D3 color=3Dred> =20
Topic Map Resources
</font> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
The TAO of Topic Maps (an excellent introduction to the subject): <I><a =
href=3D"http://www.gca.org/papers/xmlerope2000/papers/s11-01.html">http:/=
/www.gca.org/papers/xmlerope2000/papers/s11-01.html</a></I>
<p align=3Djustify> =20
TopicMapmail: A mailing list where discussions on various aspects of =
topic maps take place. To subscribe to the list check out: <I><a =
href=3D"http://www.infoloom.com/mailman/listinfo/topicmapmail">http://www=
.infoloom.com/mailman/listinfo/topicmapmail</a></I>
<p align=3Djustify> =20
A list of publicly available topic maps: <I><a =
href=3D"http://www.topicmapping.com/registry.html">http://www.topicmappin=
g.com/registry.html</a> </I>
<p align=3Djustify> =20
A tutorial on authoring XTM topic maps: =
<I>http://topicmaps.bond.edu.au/docs/6/toc</I>.
<p align=3Djustify> =20
A Wiki site on Topic Maps: http://easytopicmaps.com
<p align=3Djustify> =20
A gentle introduction to Topic Maps: <I><a =
href=3D"http://www.topicmaps.org/xtm/1.0/#desc-intro">http://www.topicmap=
s.org/xtm/1.0/#desc-intro</a></I>
<p align=3Djustify> =20
<font class=3Dsubsectionhead size=3D3 color=3Dred> =20
A Whois client
<p align=3Djustify> =20
</font> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
There can be many situations in which we need to know the ownership and =
other details of a domain name. Whois service is used to unearth the =
domain name details from a domain name registrar or registry's database. =
A Whois service scans various registry on-line databases and displays a =
domain name details such as its owner's postal address, technical =
contact, administrative contact and the domain name's server address.=20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
There are many on-line Whois services available on the Net like =
ZoneEdit's Gloval Whois Gateway (<I><a =
href=3D"http://www.zoneedit.com/whois.html">http://www.zoneedit.com/whois=
.html</a></I>) and Allwhois (<I>http://www.allwhois.com/</I>). If, =
instead of a web-based service, you need a Whois client that operates =
from the desktop, try out the Whois utility `Geek Tools Whois' =
(<I>http://www.geektools.com/dist/gtwhois52.exe</I>). Apart from this =
desktop Whois client, here you can find a link to an open source =
web-based Whois service =
(<I>http://grove.ufl.edu/~bro/cgi-bin/wp.cgi</I>)
<p align=3Djustify> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
=20
J. Murali =
=20
<p> =20
<p align=3Djustify> =20
<i> =20
Email the author at: <a =
href=3D"mailto:murali27@satyam.net.in">murali27@satyam.net.in</a>
<p align=3Djustify> =20
</i> =20
=20
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