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Key Choices in the Design of Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS)

29 Pages Posted: 9 Jul 2018 Publication Status: Accepted

See all articles by Thomas Baker

Thomas Baker

Dublin Core Metadata Initiative

Sean Bechhofer

University of Manchester - School of Computer Science

Antoine Isaac

VU University Amsterdam; Europeana Foundation

Alistair Miles

University of Oxford - Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics

Guus Schreiber

VU University Amsterdam - Web & Media Group

Ed Summers

Government of the United States of America - Library of Congress

Abstract

Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) provides a data model and vocabulary for expressing Knowledge Organization Systems (KOSs) such as thesauri and classification schemes in Semantic Web applications. This paper presents the main components of SKOS and their formal expression in Web Ontology Language (OWL), providing an extensive account of the design decisions taken by the Semantic Web Deployment (SWD) Working Group of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which between 2006 and 2009 brought SKOS to the status of W3C Recommendation. The paper explains key design principles such as "minimal ontological commitment" and systematically cites the requirements and issues that influenced the design of SKOS components. By reconstructing the discussion around alternative features and design options and presenting the rationale for design decisions, the paper aims at providing insight into how SKOS turned out as it did, and why. Assuming that SKOS, like any other successful technology, may eventually be subject to revision and improvement, the critical account offered here may help future editors approach such a task with deeper understanding.

Keywords: thesauri, controlled vocabularies, knowledge organisation systems, web standards

Suggested Citation

Baker, Thomas and Bechhofer, Sean and Isaac, Antoine and Miles, Alistair and Schreiber, Guus and Summers, Ed, Key Choices in the Design of Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) (2013). Journal of Web Semantics First Look, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3199058 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3199058

Thomas Baker

Dublin Core Metadata Initiative ( email )

c/o National Library Board Singapore
100 Victoria Street #14-01
Singapore, 188064
Singapore

Sean Bechhofer (Contact Author)

University of Manchester - School of Computer Science ( email )

Kilburn Building, Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9GH, M13 9PL
United Kingdom

Antoine Isaac

VU University Amsterdam ( email )

De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam, ND North Holland 1081 HV
Netherlands

Europeana Foundation ( email )

c/o Koninklijke Bibliotheek
PO Box 90407
The Hague, 2509 LK
Netherlands

Alistair Miles

University of Oxford - Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics ( email )

Old Road Campus
Roosevelt Drive
Oxford, OX3 7FZ
United Kingdom

Guus Schreiber

VU University Amsterdam - Web & Media Group ( email )

De Boelelaan 1081a
Amsterdam, 1081
Netherlands

Ed Summers

Government of the United States of America - Library of Congress ( email )

101 Independence Ave
Washington, DC 20540
United States

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