The goal of DynamOnt is
to develop a method for creating Dynamic Ontologies. This method is
supposed to guarantee the efficient usage of information in a
collaborative hypertext environment.
About the project "DynamOnt" Webbased
information and communication platforms are indispensable
infrastructures in distributed knowledge and competence networks. The
actual potential of this kind of collaboration is not nearly fully
exploited. This is due to the fact that the currently offered
technological solutions and work methods are too simple.
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to distributed collaboration via knowledge platforms,
is to create a common understanding for shared information. Ontologies
support this process by storing the meaning of information in a
systematic way.
At present, the creation of high quality
ontologies is still time-consuming and cost-intensive as they can only
be realized ontology experts. As a result, such ontologies are
only
available for those knowledge areas which are of economic value (e.g. health sector, tourism sector, insurance business).
Once created, a new challenge arises. The ontologies need to be
continuously adapted to the common understanding without the permanent
help of an expert.
At present, there are no suitable methods or
tools which enable the creation or continuous development of ontologies; and which cannot be handled only by ontology experts.
The goal of the research project DynamOnt is to create a process
for the problem described above and to provide supportive methods for
each process step. As a consequence, the collaborative development of
knowledge structures should be simplified. During the creation and
continuous development of ontologies, the heterogeneous knowledge of
organizations including datasets, existing glossaries, thesauri, and
ontologies will be used.
Significance for factline DynamOnt is a research project of great strategic value for factline.
It is supposed to ensure that our solutions will meet the enormous
requirements of scientific working virtual knowledge communitites. In
the approaching age of semantic webs, dynamic ontologies will probably
be indispensable.
