Semantic web 'will transform the internet'

Developments in the field of the semantic web are likely to move the online sector into previously "unimagined" areas, it has been claimed.

Professor Nigel Shadbolt of the University of Southampton's School of Electronics and Computer Science gave the example of semantic web technology enabling users to uncover all of the information available about a single person just by searching for their name.

The expert was speaking on the topic ahead of the Web Science 09 event in Athens, which will be held between March 18th and 20th.

At the conference, he will give a keynote address touching on how the internet will evolve as Web 2.0 and semantic website development technologies are advanced further.

Professor Shadbolt added: "The sheer abundance of information on the web means that we will see the emergence of real serendipitous reuse of information – often in new and unexpected contexts."

A project funded by the European Union, known as S-TEN, is currently looking into how the semantic web can make electricity grids smarter by enabling the various components of a energy network - such as a volt meter on a wind turbine - to autonomously publish data about what and where they are, as well as what they do.

This news story was brought to you by Bluhalo, a leading UK digital agency.