KendraBase

The KendraBase idea has developed into a semantic wiki / database with auto form generation for data input and queries. A simple content management system. Queries will be distributed and agent-like.

The demo is here: http://base.kendra.org.uk

KendraBase must:

• Support a "sea of information" from multiple sources, that may
  • be inconsistent, both between and within sources
  • change over time
• Make every part of the sea of information accesible in terms of its own model (that is, to be self-describing).
• Be able to distribute data on multiple servers and be able to answer queries as if it was one server.

KendraBase is not defining standards (XML schema perhaps) for how we describe things in the real world. KendraBase enables people to describe the world how they wish to, using their own language and terminology, and to have these descriptions understood by others that may not be able to directly understand the original author's language and terminology. KendraBase enables this "universal translator" effect by enabling people to link ideas together with their own relationships.

In effect, KendraBase enables the interchange of ideas using standards that are personal and dynamic. This way "meaning" is defined by usage (bottom up) rather than the dictate (top down) approach usually associated with standards.

Development

• KendraBaseProjectPlan
• KendraBaseArchitecture
• KendraBaseProgress
• KendraBase design and implementation notes
• KendraBase - moving to 0.1
• KendraBaseWishList
• KendraBaseInterface
• KendraBaseWhy
• KendraBaseLicense
• Extreme Programming

Conflicts

"Surely if people can define the way that they describe information we'll end up with 'meaning' conflicts all over the place"... KendraBase may look a complete mess if you look at it all at once. However, as a viewer one will have to choose how one views it – adopt a set of description definitions. One will have to choose who one trusts to provide them with their description definitions – perhaps friends or bank or an application. This allows one to filter the data to make sense of it.

It may take time for things to settle down. Perhaps small groups of description definitions will make equivalence links with other groups. And so as these connections spread so perhaps will 'understanding'.

Compatibility

KendraBase will be compatible and interoperable with the W3C's SemanticWeb but not reliant on it. We will look to make KendraBase compatible and interoperable with all initiatives to build networks of understanding.

Collaboration

• i-together
• Meta-data tagging
• Creative Commons
• Community Fabric
• External links to Kendra Base