Arguing Semantics The Net cook is brewing up a new Web. Are you ready for a taste test?

If the current Web is a marinara, then the Semantic Web is amuch richer cream sauce. Don't worry if you haven't heardof it yet; you're about to get a crash course. To start,combine a serving of data integration, a heap of developingtechnology and a helping of philosophy for flavor. Mix well. Thefuture of the Web is starting to look very tasty.

This probably makes you wonder, "Just what is the SemanticWeb?" That's the same question we asked Eric Miller,Semantic Web Activity Lead for the Web standards body World WideWeb Consortium (W3C). "The Semantic Web is an extension of thecurrent Web," says Miller. "The specific focus of this isto provide a means where information is given a well-definedmeaning, better enabling machines to process, manipulate andintegrate this information into additional services so that humanscan better take advantage of these things."

Sound a little vague to you? Then you're on the right track.The key to not being confused by all this is to take a wide view.Just as you would have been hard-pressed to describe the World WideWeb as it is today back in 1990, it's hard to describe todaywhat the Semantic Web will be like in five or 10 years-but thepotential is huge, and it will make a difference in the way youconduct business.