How the VMF matrix works Godfrey Rust Rightscom

How the VMF matrix works Godfrey Rust, Rightscom Presentation to VMF seminar British Library, London November 9, 2009 godfrey. rust@rightscom. com vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. Albert Einstein vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

VMF goal Automatically compute the “best fit” mappings between any two pre-defined vocabularies. vocab 2 vocab 1 vmf vocab 4 vmf vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

3 stages of VMF project vocab 2 vocab 1 vmf vocab 4 vmf vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

3 stages of VMF project 1. Create the matrix and map vocabularies in (what we’ve mainly done so far). vocab 2 vocab 1 vmf vocab 4 vmf vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

3 stages of VMF project 1. Create the matrix and map vocabularies in (what we’ve mainly done so far). 2. Scheme to scheme mappings out (some first tests of this). vocab 2 vocab 1 vmf vocab 4 vmf vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

3 stages of VMF project 1. Create the matrix and map vocabularies in (what we’ve mainly done so far). 2. Scheme to scheme mappings out (some first tests of this). 3. Establish VMF as an ongoing resource. vocab 2 vocab 1 vmf vocab 4 vmf vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Initial schemes to map RDA (libraries) ONIX (book/serials publishing) DDEX (recorded music) Dublin Core (web metadata) FRBR (libraries) LOM SCORM (education) MARC 21 (libraries) DOI (any content) CIDOC CRM (museums and archives) FRAD (libraries) MPEG 21 RDD (digital rights) RDA ONIX Framework vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Vocabularies Concentrating on: Resource categories Resource-to-Resource relators Resource-to-Party relators Party categories Metadata is increasingly seen to be more about Relators than attributes – FRBR, indecs, CIDOC CRM, RDA all Relationship based. Always been there – just hidden. 9 of the Dublin Core 15 terms are actually Relators. Semantic Web/RDF point in the same direction. Distributed data means linking identities – which means Relators. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Matrix stats Approximate figures for the matrix today: 10 schemes 53 vocabularies mapped in whole or part 500+ concept families 8000+ unique terms 30, 000+ RDF triples Concentrated on resource-to-party relators (highest overlap, most important verbs) at the outset. Some further work to do before releasing the matrix publicly. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Data model: the challenge The data model of the matrix has to accommodate the data models of all the vocabularies mapped to it, and the relationships between them. vmf The VMF data model and ontology is based on Rightscom’s COA model, which grew from the <indecs> framework and has much in common with FRBR and CIDOC CRM. vocab 1 COA also provides the “model of making” – an analysis of the relationship between Works and their Manifestations which is of particular use in library/content provider metadata. vocab 4 vocab 2 vmf vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

How does VMF work? Terms are mapped into an ontology (the VMF matrix) built up from “families” of concepts based on verbs. The matrix can be queried to get the “best fit” match from one term or vocabulary to another. (Note: the matrix is for machine processing – not for human use, and it is not a cataloguing tool or a standard vocabulary). vmf vocab 2 vocab 1 vmf vocab 4 vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context vmf Create (or Creating Event) Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context Create (or Creating Event) Create (to Make something (as a human being) vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context Create (or Creating Event) Parent Make (to bring something into existence) Create (to Make something (as a human being) vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context Create (or Creating Event) Parent Make (to bring something into existence) Create (to Make something (as a human being) Children Conceive, Originate, Derive, Create Work, Create Perceivable Resource, Create with Tool, Create with Material, Direct, Contribute etc… vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context Create (or Creating Event) Parent Make (to bring something into existence) Create (to Make something (as a human being) Children Conceive, Originate, Derive, Create Work, Create Perceivable Resource, Create with Tool, Create with Material, Direct, Contribute etc… vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context vmf Create (or Creating Event) Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context Agent Resource vmf Create Creator Creation Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family vmf Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Creator_Creation Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family vmf Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Creator_Creation_Creator Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family vmf Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family provides a complete set of terms that describe a type of Event or State (“Context”), always based on a verb. Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation All relationships (and so most meanings) are based on Events, so this is a good place to start. Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create Every term in the VMF matrix is a member of a Concept Family. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create How do these terms relate to the vocabularies we are mapping? vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family vmf Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation onix: Code. List 17 Created by Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family onix: Code. List 17 Created by marc 21: Relationship Creator vmf Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family onix: Code. List 17 Created by marc 21: Relationship Creator vmf Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation lom: role_lifecycle author Creation_Create Creator_Create Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family onix: Code. List 17 Created by marc 21: Relationship Creator Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation lom: role_lifecycle author Creation_Create Creator_Create Dc: dc 15 Creator vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family onix: Code. List 17 Created by marc 21: Relationship Creator Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation lom: role_lifecycle author Creation_Create Creator_Create crm: property was created by vmf Dc: dc 15 Creator Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family onix: Code. List 17 Created by marc 21: Relationship Creator Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation lom: role_lifecycle author Creation_Create Creator_Create crm: property was created by Dc: dc 15 Creator crm: property has created vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A Concept Family onix: Code. List 17 Created by marc 21: Relationship Creator Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation lom: role_lifecycle author Creation_Create Creator_Create crm: property was created by crm: class Man-made object vmf Dc: dc 15 Creator crm: property has created Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

onix: Code. List 17 A Concept Family Created by marc 21: Relationship Creator Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation lom: role_lifecycle author frbr: Endeavour Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create crm: property was created by crm: class Man-made object vmf Dc: dc 15 Creator crm: property has created Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

onix: Code. List 17 A Concept Family Created by rdd: verbs Make Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation marc 21: Relationship Creator lom: role_lifecycle author frbr: Endeavour Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create crm: property was created by crm: class Man-made object vmf Dc: dc 15 Creator crm: property has created Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

onix: Code. List 17 A Concept Family Created by rdd: verbs Make Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation marc 21: Relationship Creator lom: role_lifecycle author frbr: Endeavour Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create Dc: dc 15 crm: property was created by crm: class Man-made object Creator crm: property has created ddex: (nothing) rda: (nothing) frad: (nothing) vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

onix: Code. List 17 A Concept Family Created by rdd: verbs Make Context Agent Resource Creator Creation Relator Relator Creator_Creation Create_Creator_Creator Creation_Creation marc 21: Relationship Creator lom: role_lifecycle author frbr: Endeavour Creation_Creator Creation_Create Creator_Create Dc: dc 15 crm: property was created by crm: class Man-made object Creator crm: property has created ddex: (nothing) rda: (nothing) Every term in a vocabulary maps onto a term in some Concept Family. vmf frad: (nothing) Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Value of the Concept Family (1) The Concept Families provide all possible points (“nodes”) in the matrix for vocabulary terms to be mapped. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A (bigger) Concept Family vmf Context Agent Resource 1 Resource 2 Deriver Derivation Source Relator Relator Relator Deriver_Derivation_Deriver_Source_Deriver Derivation_Source_Derivation_Derive_Derivation Deriver_Derive_Deriver Source_Derive_Source Deriver_Deriver Derivation_Derivation Source_Source Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

A (bigger) Concept Family vmf Automated naming of Relators (easy to create and find terms). Context Agent Resource 1 Resource 2 Deriver Derivation Source Relator Relator Relator Deriver_Derivation_Deriver_Source_Deriver Derivation_Source_Derivation_Derive_Derivation Deriver_Derive_Deriver Source_Derive_Source Deriver_Deriver Derivation_Derivation Source_Source Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Value of the Concept Family (2) The Concept Family allows large numbers of terms to be generated in the matrix very efficiently. A single concept will typically produce 15 -25 terms (3 -5 classes and 8 -24 relators). Less than a quarter of those will directly map onto vocabularies, but most will be used as pathways in computing relationships between different terms. Because the model is simple in concept, and the process is reasonably flexible and automated, the maintenance of a large and complex ontology is manageable (“as simple as possible…”). vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Value of the Concept Family (3) The “family tree” of verbs provide the skeleton of the whole matrix, going from the most general concepts at the top down to the most detailed anyone might need to imagine. Because of the concept families, the matrix is made up of a number of parallel hierarchies, joined across by the family links. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Some top level concepts: verbs Contextualize Exist. Statically Exist. Dynamically Act Do Do. Transitively Do. Intransitively Do. As. Principal. Agent Do. As. Supporting. Agent Make Cause. State Create Derive Adapt Translate Compile Interact Derive Use Perceive See vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Some top level concepts: verbs Contextualize Exist. Statically Exist. Dynamically Act Do Do. Transitively Do. Intransitively Do. As. Principal. Agent Do. As. Supporting. Agent Make Cause. State Create Derive Adapt Translate Compile Interact Derive Use Perceive See vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Some top level concepts: verbs, agents Contextualize Exist. Statically Exist. Dynamically Act Do Do. Transitively Do. Intransitively Do. As. Principal. Agent Do. As. Supporting. Agent Make Cause. State Create Derive Adapt Translate Compile Interact Derive Use Perceive See vmf Agent Doer. Transitively Doer. Intransitively Doer. As. Principal. Agent Doer. As. Supporting. Agent Maker Causer. Of. State Creator Deriver Adaptor Translator Compiler Interacter Deriver User Perceiver Seer Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Some top level concepts: verbs, agents, resources Contextualize Exist. Statically Exist. Dynamically Act Do Do. Transitively Do. Intransitively Do. As. Principal. Agent Do. As. Supporting. Agent Make Cause. State Create Derive Adapt Translate Compile Interact Derive Use Perceive See vmf Resource Existent Static. Resource Dynamic. Resource Patient. Done. To Transitive. Patient Agent Doer. Transitively Doer. Intransitively Doer. As. Principal. Agent Doer. As. Supporting. Agent Maker Causer. Of. State Creator Deriver Adaptor Translator Compiler Interacter Deriver User Perceiver Seer Do. As. Principal. Agent Do. As. Supporting. Agent Output Consequence Consequent. State Creation Derivation, Source Adaptatation, Source. Of. . Translator, Source. Of. . Compilation, Component Input Derivation, Source Used. Resource Perceived. Resource Seen. Resource Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Some top level concepts: verbs, agents, resources …and of course all the Relators between these classes. Contextualize Exist. Statically Exist. Dynamically Act Do Do. Transitively Do. Intransitively Do. As. Principal. Agent Do. As. Supporting. Agent Make Cause. State Create Derive Adapt Translate Compile Interact Derive Use Perceive See vmf Resource Existent Static. Resource Dynamic. Resource Patient. Done. To Transitive. Patient Agent Doer. Transitively Doer. Intransitively Doer. As. Principal. Agent Doer. As. Supporting. Agent Maker Causer. Of. State Creator Deriver Adaptor Translator Compiler Interacter Deriver User Perceiver Seer Do. As. Principal. Agent Do. As. Supporting. Agent Output Consequence Consequent. State Creation Derivation, Source Adaptatation, Source. Of. . Translator, Source. Of. . Compilation, Component Input Derivation, Suurce Used. Resource Perceived. Resource Seen. Resource Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Some lower level verbs Make From Material Create Part Of Film Create Parody Of FRBR Expression Smell Moderate Panel Create Content As Librettist Conduct Experiment Design Cover Or Cover Artwork Take Moving Photograph Be Human Perform Music As Primary Performer See With Microform Reader Be Changeable Necessarily Add Ink Outline Or Add Color To Visual Be HTML Realize On Mirror Site vmf However granular or obscure, everything belongs to a Concept Family. The matrix should be able to include almost any concept at any level of detail – but is extended on a “need to know basis” (the principle of Functional Granularity). Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Value of the Concept Family (4) The relators within a Concept Family, and between different families, create the network of meaning to allow “best fit” mappings to be computed when an exact equivalent is not available. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Mapping to the matrix vmf: Words. Creator vmf: Adaptor vmf: Words. Adaptor vmf: Commentator vmf: Translator vmf: Subtitles. Translator vmf: Translator. And. Commentator vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Mapping to the matrix Every term in a vocabulary is given an equivalent term in a VMF concept family… vmf: Words. Creator vmf: Adaptor vmf: Words. Adaptor vmf: Commentator vmf: Translator vmf: Subtitles. Translator vmf: Translator. And. Commentator vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Mapping to the matrix Every term in a vocabulary is given an equivalent term in a VMF concept family… vmf: Words. Creator vmf: Adaptor vmf: Words. Adaptor vmf: Commentator ddex: Translator onix: Translated by vmf: Translator vmf: Subtitles. Translator Ddex: Subtitles. Translator vmf: Translator. And. Commentator vmf onix: Translated with commentary by Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Mapping scheme to scheme vmf: Words. Creator Queries can then be used to find the “best fit” mappings between two terms or complete vocabularies. vmf: Adaptor vmf: Words. Adaptor vmf: Commentator ddex: Translator onix: Translated by vmf: Translator vmf: Subtitles. Translator ddex: Subtitles. Translator vmf: Translator. And. Commentator vmf onix: Translated with commentary by Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Mapping scheme to scheme vmf: Words. Creator Queries can then be used to find the “best fit” mappings between two terms or complete vocabularies. vmf: Adaptor vmf: Words. Adaptor onix: Translated by vmf: Commentator ddex: Translator vmf: Subtitles. Translator Ddex: Subtitles. Translator vmf: Translator. And. Commentator vmf onix: Translated with commentary by Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Mapping results An early test… We wrote some simple SPARQL queries which map any one vocabulary to any other, asking it to find for each term: - exact matches - parents - children - siblings (other children of parents) vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Mapping results Marc 21 Relationship vmf Onix Code List 17 Actor same as Actor Adapter Child Dramatized by Adapter Parent Adapted by Adapter Sibling Abridged by Adapter Sibling Other adaptation by Adapter Sibling Translated by Architect Parent Designed by Architect Sibling Cover design or artwork by Arranger same as Arranged by music Artist same as By artist Author Child By author Author Child By composer Author Child Software written by Author Sibling From an idea by Author of introduction etc Child Introduction by Author of introduction etc Sibling Commentaries by Author of introduction etc Sibling Memoir by Author of introduction etc Sibling Notes by Author of introduction etc Sibling Summary by Author of screenplay same as Screenplay by Cartographer same as Maps by Commentator same as Commentator This is a sample of vocabulary-to-vocabulary mapping results produced by simple queries from the matrix (some more is shown in the VMF Introduction document). Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Question: how to get the “best fit”? There is rarely a “right” answer to a complete vocabulary mapping – we’re looking for the “best fit”. No mapping can create meaning that is not already in the target scheme – it can only try to find it. Some people will want the decisions made for them, others will want to be given the options so that they can choose. Do we want “Recommended” mappings for particular vocabulary pairs? Yes – then with what rules, and who agrees the results? There are many possibilities for refining the ontology structure and query methods, including the addition of conditonal rules that go beyond the basic OWL axioms. Testing and review also provide the best QA for the ontology (at least 10% of mappings likely to be “less than optimal” at this stage). VMF is “cooking nicely” but needs time to try different things. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Technology Matrix data prep in Excel, extracted automatically to RDF triples (TTL format), reviewed using Protege. A small amount of inference is required to complete gaps in the super-relator hierarchy. Current query testing using SPARQL, but the matrix and queries could be put automatically into many logic formalisms and queried with many languages. It will be generally available, so help yourself if you want to experiment. VMF is about the semantics, not the tools. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

vmf Matrix axioms These RDFS and OWL axioms provide the core logic rdfs: sub. Class. Of rdfs: sub. Property. Of rdfs: domain rdfs: range owl: inverse. Of rdf: type owl: disjoint. With owl: complement. Of owl: intersection. Of owl: union. Of between a class and its parent(s) between a relator and its parent(s) the domain class of a relator the range class of a relator reciprocal relators membership of classes with no common members disjoint classes that make up a parent concept classes made by combining two or more concepts classes whose members must be one thing or another Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Matrix axioms rdfs: sub. Class. Of rdfs: sub. Property. Of rdfs: domain rdfs: range owl: inverse. Of rdf: type owl: disjoint. With owl: complement. Of owl: intersection. Of owl: union. Of owl: equivalent. Class owl: equivalent. Property vmf: Is. Resource. In. CF vmf: Is. Context. In. CF vmf: Is. Relator. In. CF These RDFS and OWL axioms provide the core logic between a class and its parent(s) between a relator and its parent(s) the domain class of a relator the range class of a relator reciprocal relators membership of classes with no common members disjoint classes that make up a parent concept classes made by combining two or more concepts classes whose members are one thing or another mapped classes mapped relators This extra set of “vmf” Relators define the relationships within a Concept Family (CF). They can be translated into logical rules to allow more complex inference. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Matrix rules The concept families and RDFS/OWL axioms provide a “simple as possible” framework for the matrix, and deliver most of what is needed – but some further logical connections need to be made with rules that go beyond the scope of the basic axioms. For example… vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet Author_Work W Shakespeare vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet Author_Work Adapter_ Source W Shakespeare vmf J Smith Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet – the pop up cartoon version Source_ Adaptation Author_Work Adapter_ Source W Shakespeare vmf J Smith Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet – the pop up cartoon version Source_ Adaptation Author_Work Adapter_ Adaptation Adapter_ Source W Shakespeare vmf J Smith Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet – the pop up cartoon version Source_ Adaptation Author_Work Adapter_ Adaptation Adapter_ Source W Shakespeare vmf J Smith Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet – the pop up cartoon version Source_ Adaptation Author_Work “Original Author” Adapter_ Adaptation Adapter_ Source W Shakespeare vmf J Smith Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet Author_Work Romeo & Juliet – the pop up cartoon version Source_ Adaptation Source. Author_ Derivation. With. Source. Author W Shakespeare vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Displaced attributes Some terms collapse two or more concept families into one. For example – the “Original Author” of a work. Romeo & Juliet Author_Work W Shakespeare vmf Romeo & Juliet – the pop up cartoon version Source_ Adaptation Source. Author_ Derivation. With. Source. Author A rule is needed in the ontology to show that this one relator actually represents a chain of two existing concept families. Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Challenges facing the matrix? The “lattice” approach is logically robust (a common model for ontology), but it can result in a “combinatory explosion” of concepts with multiple parents. One additional attribute at the top can turn into dozens or hundreds further down – a “combinatory explosion”. RDF/OWL/SPARQL are relatively easy and accessible – but not as powerful as full FOL (First Order Logic) inference. No easy remedy – everything has trade-offs. The family approach helps you see both the wood and the trees – but we need to look for best ontology practice to get best results (the matrix can be automatically converted into other formalisms if it is helpful). vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Refining the matrix In next stage we would like to: - extend mappings and validate them with scheme authorities - develop and test mapping rules, produce candidate mappings for main vocabulary pairs - welcome suggestions to extend the semantics or organization of the matrix - welcome all experiments with inference rules to get “best fit”. - welcome one or two specific projects which can make practical use of VMF. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

The need for authorisation For example, if vocabulary 2 is to map “as well as possible” to vocabulary 4, then both 2 and 4 should validate their mappings to the matrix. Mapping should be a two way process – most accurate if both parties agree. Changes must be maintained - the rate of change is increasing. vmf vocab 4 vmf vocab 2 vocab 1 vocab 3 Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Availability VMF matrix freely available as an RDF/OWL ontology before the end of the year. Tools? Dependent on next stages. We have used Protégé for viewing and validating. Further details in the VMF Introduction document. vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009

Uses of VMF? Authoritative source for public vocabulary mappings (but providing a tool for choice if needed) Incorporate mappings automatically into schema transformations. Provide QA or options for scheme/vocabulary developers. Mapping proprietary schemes? Taxonomies/subject indexes? No limit to scope in principle – concept family model is generic. Extend to full schema mapping/transformation? What other uses or benefits can you see? vmf Godfrey Rust, Rightscom: How the VMF matrix works, Nov 2009