Common Web Language Evaluation and Installation Incubator Group Charter

The mission of the Common Web Language Evaluation and Installation Incubator Group, part of the Incubator Activity, is to substantiate the CWL (Common Web Language) in actual web environment using the pilot model of the CWL platform. The CWL is a graphic language of semantic network with hyper node and is used to describe contents and meta-data of web pages in three different type of form such as UNL, CDL and RDF. The CWL platform allows people to input CWL using natural languages and display information written in CWL in natural languages. Using this CWL platform, the CWL will be evaluated from multilingualism, semantic computing and semantic web points of view. Based on these evaluation and feedback, the CWL and its platform will be bearable in actual use in the web.

Join the Common Web Language Evaluation and Installation Incubator Group.

End date	31 May 2009
Confidentiality	Proceedings are public
Initial Chairs	Hiroshi Uchida (ISeC)
Initiating Members	Institute of Semantic Computing (ISeC) National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Keio University JustSystems Corporation
Usual Meeting Schedule	Teleconferences: 4 per year Face-to-face: 2 per year

Scope

The CWL is a graphic language of semantic network with hyper node, a node represents a concept, an arc represents a relation between nodes and a node can be annotated by attributes. This CWL can be expressed in three forms such as UNL, CDL and RDF. The same information in CWL can be described in each form but in different manner. The CWL.unl is a language in UNL form, the CWL.cdl is a language in CDL form and the CWL.rdf is a language in RDF form. Information in the web is basically expressed in natural languages. UNL is for multilingual activities. CDL is for semantic computing activity. RDF is for semantic web activities. Various information will be expressed in three types of representation, and applications based on those representations will be developed, and information will be utilized.

Three different types of representations of CWL allow different way of treatment for the same information described. CWL.unl is unstructured text for multilingualism, CWL.cdl has compatibility with semantic computing systems for semantic computing, CWL.rdf is for working with various data navigation and aggregation systems (like SPARQL).

The CWL is designed to be used to describe meta-data and contents of web pages for breaking language barriers and enable computers to process web information semantically. However, even a language specification is decided, it is not enough for practical use. Evaluation from various aspects based on actual use is totally necessary. Adjustment and improvement based on such evaluation will be done to make the CWL and its platform to be bearable for practical use in the web.

Objectives

The CWL and CWL platform will be evaluated from three view points to substantiate the CWL in actual web environment. The first is from the aspect of multilingualism, the second is from the aspect of semantic computing, and the third is from the aspect of semantic web such as data navigation and aggregation. The CWL platform will be also evaluated from efficiency and correctness point of views.

[Evaluation from Multilingual Aspect]

The CWL.unl will be evaluated from multilingual aspect. The CWL platform enables people to enter CWL using natural languages and display information written in CWL in natural languages utilizing the UNL system. Contents of web pages written in English, Japanese, etc. will be converted into CWL.unl and then those web pages written in CWL will be converted into various natural languages. Conversion quality, usability and performance of the CWL platform especially the CWL editor as a translation system will be evaluated and improved in quality and coverage of language respects.

[Evaluation from Semantic Computing Aspect]

The CDL is a language within Semantic Computing framework. The CDL describes semantic/conceptual structure of contents (resources) and can deal with natural languages, mathematical expressions, movie, music, etc. The CWL.cdl is based on the CDL and will be evaluated from the affinity with reasoning mechanism and multi-media information point of view.

[Evaluation from Semantic Web Aspect]

The CWL.rdf will be evaluated from RDF/OWL applications point of view such as various data navigation and aggregation systems (like SPARQL). Utilities of the OWL representation of the CWL ontology containing linguistic knowledge in applications of RDF/OWL will also be evaluated.

In addition to the above, possibility of automatic generation of meta-data from web pages written in CWL will be examined.

[Enrichment of CWL ontology]

The CWL ontology defines the vocabulary and linguistic knowledge of CWL. The CWL ontology also defines every possible relation between concepts. Conversion of among languages uses CWL ontology to find corresponding words. The CWL ontology will be enriched to cover more vocabulary and languages.

[Improvement of CWL Platform]

The CWL platform consists of UNL system, CWL converter, and CWL editor. The UNL system makes a conversion between CWL.unl and each natural language. The CWL converter makes a conversion among CWL.unl, CWL.cdl, CWL.rdf. The CWL editor enables people to input CWL using their mother tongue, and display information written in CWL in their languages. The CWL platform will be evaluated from usability, efficiency and correctness point of view and will be improved in quality and coverage of language respects.

Note:

The UNL was developed in the United Nations University and now the UNDL Foundation deploys UNL throughout the world under the license of the United Nations. At present, UNL systems are operational in more than 20 countries. UNL is a common language for computers and is used for international communication.

The CDL (Concept Description Language) is a language proposed by ISeC for Semantic Computing (SeC) R&D. CDL is fundamental language within SeC (Semantic Computing) framework. CDL describes semantic/conceptual structure of contents (resources).

Deliverables

Common Web Language Specifications
CWL ontology
CWL Editor (available through Internet)
Evaluation Reports

CWL Editor
UNL System
CWL Converter

Dependencies

W3C Groups

CWL follows the standard technology of RDF/OWL, and layered in Semantic Web Applications and Services. There will be cooperative relations with the Semantic Web Activity groups.

External Groups

The environment of the UNL and the UNL system will be provided by UNDL Foundation. Persons concerned with UNL will be invited to this XG.

Participation

Natural language processing researcher, the linguist, and artificial intelligence researcher will participate in the XG. And the groups which utilize CWL contents for the web will be also welcomed.

Communication

This group primarily conducts its work on the public mailing list public-xg-cwl-ei@w3.org (archive) . The group's Member-only list is member-xg-cwl-ei@w3.org (archive)

Information about the group (deliverables, participants, face-to-face meetings, etc.) is available from the Common Web Language Evaluation and Installation Incubator Group home page.

Decision Policy

As explained in the Process Document (section 3.3), this group will seek to make decisions when there is consensus. When the Chair puts a question and observes dissent, after due consideration of different opinions, the Chair should record a decision (possibly after a formal vote) and any objections, and move on.

When deciding a substantive technical issue, the Chair may put a question before the group. The Chair must only do so during a group meeting, and at least two-thirds of participants in Good Standing must be in attendance. When the Chair conducts a formal vote to reach a decision on a substantive technical issue, eligible voters may vote on a proposal one of three ways: for a proposal, against a proposal, or abstain. For the proposal to pass there must be more votes for the proposal than against. In case of a tie, the Chair will decide the outcome of the proposal.
This charter is written in accordance with Section 3.4, Votes of the W3C Process Document and includes no voting procedures beyond what the Process Document requires.

Patent Policy

This Incubator Group provides an opportunity to share perspectives on the topic addressed by this charter. W3C reminds Incubator Group participants of their obligation to comply with patent disclosure obligations as set out in Section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy. While the Incubator Group does not produce Recommendation-track documents, when Incubator Group participants review Recommendation-track specifications from Working Groups, the patent disclosure obligations do apply.

Incubator Groups have as a goal to produce work that can be implemented on a Royalty Free basis, as defined in the W3C Patent Policy.

The W3C Team is responsible for notifying all Participants in this Incubator Group in the event that a new Working Group is proposed to develop a Recommendation that takes the XG Report as an input.

For more information about disclosure obligations for this group, please see the W3C Patent Policy Implementation.

About this Charter

This charter for the Common Web Language Evaluation and Installation Incubator Group has been created according to the Incubator Group Procedures documentation. In the event of a conflict between this document or the provisions of any charter and the W3C Process, the W3C Process shall take precedence.

Hiroshi Uchida uchida@instsec.org

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