Semantic Web Design

The idea of the semantic web has been touted for some time, and now there are applications coming out that can actually implement elements of it. One example is the retail website for eBags, long a leader in e-commerce. That site makes use of information gathered from various sources about customer preferences and enables them to quickly zero into the particular bags they are most likely to want.

The amount of information now available about customer preferences has grown tremendously in recent years. Some of it has become available through the use of CRM and BI systems. But a lot of it has arisen through less expensive means - particularly social media. Companies are increasingly using social media to interact with their customers and in the process obtaining mineable information that can be useful in defining their preferences. Other websites also contain useful information. The idea of the semantic web is that the entire web becomes a data base that can be accessed so as to maximise search efforts and decision making. Drawing on a wide array of information is now possible by using search engines like Google, but the idea of the semantic web is to render the need for search engines unnecessary. Obtaining the necessary information happens behind the scenes.

The latest trrend towards semantic applications is only a small part of the ultimate vision, but nevertheless it can be viewed as the beginnings of a major trend that ultimately will pervade the entire web and most websites on it. For an interesting article on this subject, click here.