Re: [cuo-wg] Cross-Domain Semantic Interoperability

["Cassidy, Patrick J." <pcassidy@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have no objection to the name change.  Since we already have a COSMO-WG, a forum with less commitment to that specific approach would not conflict or be redundant.

 

On the issue of whether a 'small set of mapped upper ontologies.' would be an equally functional substitute for one common UO, it depends on how detailed the mapping is.  If all types and relations among the elements of the set of ontologies were properly related to each other, such a mapped set would be logically equivalent to the notion of a COSMO that could contain alternative logically contradictory theories.   The COSMO can accommodate a lattice of theories.  One difference would be that in the vision of the COSMO, for any given logical incompatibility, the COSMO-WG would choose one as the default.  This would provide guidance and increased semantic compatibility where users had no particular preference --- the likely situation for the vast number of potential users who have no desire to fiddle with upper ontology issues..

 

Calling it a 'set of mapped ontologies', even if it were logically indistinguishable from the proposed COSMO, might make some people happy who object to any single 'standard', no matter how flexible and accommodating that standard is -- a psychological courtesy.  The IKRIS project explored the question of mapping, and in Pat Hayes's report, he suggests from that experience that the actual logical differences among existing upper ontologies are smaller than might be supposed from casual inspection.  If people are more comfortable arriving at a common upper ontology by a process called 'mapping' rather than one called 'merging', then that would be a good thing.  The most important thing is to find some funding for the project, which will take considerable effort, regardless of whether one views it as "mapping" or "merging".

 

Pat

 

Patrick Cassidy
MITRE Corporation
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Eatontown, NJ 07724
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Phone: 732-578-6340
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Email: pcassidy@xxxxxxxxx

 

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From: cuo-wg-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:cuo-wg-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Schoening, James R C-E LCMC CIO/G6
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 12:45 PM
To: cuo-wg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [cuo-wg] Cross-Domain Semantic Interoperability

Greetings CUO-WG Subscribers,

        The Honorable John G. Grimes, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Networks & Information Integration) and DoD CIO, stated in a keynote speech in Aug 2006, "We are making progress with Communities of Interest, but we must now work on interoperability between them..."   [Not exact wording]

        I propose we change the name (and focus) of this group to "Cross-Domain Semantic Interoperability WG (CDSI-WG)," for the following reasons:

                a. CDSI-WG expresses the 'objective,' as opposed to Common Upper Ontology WG, which expresses one technical solution.   It will be easier to build understanding and support for the objective, after which we can present the candidate technologies.

                b. There could be alternatives to the Common Upper Ontology approach, which we should explore and support. For example, the Upper Ontology Summit in March 2005 (see http://ontolog.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?UpperOntologySummit ) proposed a solution consisting of a 'small set of mapped upper ontologies.'

        If we agree on this new focus, I propose the following thrusts:

                a. Build participation
                b. Develop list of candidate solutions
                c. Review enabling technologies and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of each candidate solution
                d. Identify work efforts that will mature the TRL of each candidate solution
                e. Package findings into briefing charts that members can use to build understanding and support
                f. Encourage self-organizing independent teams to propose and manage projects

        Let's first discuss this within the this subgroup, and then recruit additional particication from SICOP and other forums.  

       
        Our current web site is at http://colab.cim3.net/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?CommonUpperOntologyWG.

James R. Schoening             
US Army C-E LCMC CIO/G6 Office 
Voice: DSN 992-5812 or (732) 532-5812  
Fax: DSN 992-7551 or (732) 532-7551    
Email: James.Schoening@xxxxxxxxxxx

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