Semantic Development Relies on User Input

Accuracy of new semantic applications may be directly related to semantic literacy.

Checking out AskWiki inspired me to consider how the new generation of semantic applications — AskWiki and Freebase, among others –will rely heavily on user-generated “knowledge.” But what will happen if users don’t completely understand the semantic templates or commit to comprehensive and concise data contributions?

According to AskWiki — a semantic vehicle with which users may pull Wikipedia information– Wikipedia’s shortcoming right now is in its template info boxes. If you are familiar with the Wikipedia layout then you have no doubt seen the information boxes located along the righthand side of each Wiki page, but they are quite different, one to another. One of AskWiki’s proposals includes a standardization of the Wiki Info box. Here’s why:

“AskWiki often grabs data from Infoboxes. There are thousands of infobox types, many of which are misused. For example, it would be great for all ‘actor’ pages to use the ‘Infobox actor’ template, instead of the generic ‘Infobox person’ or ‘Biography’. Also, some cities have a standard ‘Infobox City’, some others have ‘Settlement’, some have an external-page-included infobox. Switching all these items to a standard Infobox would improve the accuracy of AskWiki.” (AskWiki, How it Works)

Right now here is a template for a basic info box in Wiki:

Wikipedia reports that its infoboxes “may be ‘freeform’ or partially automated based on parameters.” (Wikipedia: Category:Infobox Templates).

If user-generated applications must be standardized and concise then instructions and tutorials that invite the Everyman to add his/her data must: 1. welcome input, 2. emphasize conciseness without being overly technical.