ASSISTUM NEWSLETTER ------- ISSUE 3 - January 2001
ASSISTUM and the "Semantic Web"
The Internet is on the verge of a major transformation from a web of information to a web of knowledge: Tim Berners-Lee calls it the "Semantic Web" - a web which embraces large bodies of human knowledge and complements it with machine processability.
Higher Level Systems Ltd, the creator of Assistum, has been invited to join ONTOWEB, a network of academic and industrial partners. ONTOWEB is focussed on the development of the "Semantic Web", and in particular on ontologies that provide standardised frameworks for different domains of business knowledge.
Our particular interest is in knowledge representation and qualitatative modelling. We aim to identify business needs and technical solutions to guide the future development of Assistum.
One decision we have already made is to convert the format of Assistum knowledge bases to XML and to investigate the application of RDF schemas to Assistum knowledge networks.
XML, the Extensible Markup Language, is a new Net language which promises to make the Web smarter by including machine-readable information about the structure and content of Web pages. It provides a set of rules for constructing other markup languages (hence the "extensible" in the title) and so can provide much richer information about the data held in documents. XML is key to Microsoft's strategy and others.
RDF, the Resource Description Framework, is an application of XML. It allows information about a Web page to be stored as if in a structured database. RDF does not specify names for fields - it merely sets out the syntax for how different fields relate to Web pages and to one another. It is up to different communities of users to name the fields and decide which collection of fields - or schema - is best for them.
CONTENTS
THIS ISSUE
The Semantic Web - a web of meaning.
XML and RDF
Launch of Version 4
160,000 CDs!
New e-commerce site
London office
Project prioritisation
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Launch of Version 4 - something for everyone
The latest version of Assistum is now available. Version 4 comes in three editions to suit all requirements and all pockets.
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Standard for desktop use - powerful enough to consult corporate knowledge bases and to create/modify your own stand-alone knowledge bases.
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Professional for departmental use, information linking and Internet publication.
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Enterprise for large scale system development with Microsoft VBA extensions.
160,000
CDs!
A promotion of Assistum in PCPRO, the leading UK PC magazine for IT professionals, has now started. An evaluation version of the Version 4 Assistum software is featured on 160,000 coverdisk CDs in the February Edition. When the 31 day trial expires, a link to the Assistum e-commerce site provides an upgrade.
Assistum has opened a second office. Situated in Shepherds Bush, London W6, it is convenient for meetings with clients. Our customer support and our developers are also based there. Javier Fuente heads up customer support.
The Liphook office remains Assistum's HQ dealing with Sales, Marketing and administration.
New E-Commerce site
Assistum has now got a multi-currency e-commerce site up and running for customers' convenience. It uses the well-known WORLDPAY secure server facility. It has already processed orders from the USA, Germany and the UK.
International Grants
Robert Etheredge, based in Virginia USA, is using Assistum to evaluate proposals for international grants for community projects in developing countries.
How do you decide what priority to give to a project proposal?
The Assistum Project Selector is now available for the first time on the Assistum e-commerce site. This knowledge base helps you or your business team to assess what priority a particular project should have and where it fits in your project portfolio.
Most businesses have more projects or "initiatives" than they can possibly cope with. Management teams often have to chose between different project proposals and agree on a manageable portfolio of projects. Assigning project priorities can be a difficult and sometimes emotional process!
Ideally,
a project should be of high business importance with a very high chance of
success. These are rare! Often proposals are of high potential business benefit
but low chance of success (a gamble) or low business impact but high chance
of success (an early win), or no business impact at all but with certain success
(a complete timewaster!).
The issues that the Assistum Project Selector considers include:
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Business importance. This includes impact on future profits, the cost of not doing it, the options it provides and whether it is mandated eg for legal or safety reasons.
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Chance of success. This includes a consideration of the support for the project from customers, management and staff and the project complexity and access to skills both technical and management.
