Integrating diverse information resources: capturing meaning in a sea of data

摘要

The growth of networked databases and other multimedia resources heightens the need for effective means of integrating diverse information. To use multiple information sources effectively we need to understand the different meanings of data from different sources. Describing the semantics and context of the data makes it possible to bridge these differences. When we search indices we really are asking for data with a certain meaning. Yet our search terms often have different interpretations in different databases. As we rely increasingly on intelligent computational agents to filter the ever growing information overload, we must describe enough of the meaning to these agents so that they can manage the data effectively for our benefit.