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  • © 2013

Social Semantics

The Search for Meaning on the Web

Authors:

  • Presents case studies and experiments including the pioneering study of tagging systems
  • Covers performance of commercial search engines
  • Illustrates that the substance matter of this book has a robustly empirical side with an impact on industry
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Semantic Web and Beyond (ADSW, volume 13)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
  2. Introduction

    • Harry Halpin
    Pages 1-7
  3. Architecture of the World Wide Web

    • Harry Halpin
    Pages 9-50
  4. The Semantic Web

    • Harry Halpin
    Pages 51-83
  5. Theories of Semantics on the Web

    • Harry Halpin
    Pages 85-106
  6. The Semantics of Tagging

    • Harry Halpin
    Pages 107-147
  7. The Semantics of Search

    • Harry Halpin
    Pages 149-186
  8. Social Semantics

    • Harry Halpin
    Pages 187-203
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 205-220

About this book

Social Semantics: The Search for Meaning on the Web provides a unique introduction to identity and reference theories of the World Wide Web, through the academic lens of philosophy of language and data-driven statistical models. The Semantic Web is a natural evolution of the Web, and this book covers the URL-based Web architecture and Semantic Web in detail. It has a robust empirical side which has an impact on industry.

Social Semantics: The Search for Meaning on the Web discusses how the largest problem facing the Semantic Web is the problem of identity and reference, and how these are the results of a larger general theory of meaning. This book hypothesizes that statistical semantics can solve these problems, illustrated by case studies ranging from a pioneering study of tagging systems to using the Semantic Web to boost the results of commercial search engines.

Social Semantics: The Search for Meaning on the Web targets practitioners working in the related fields of the semantic web, search engines, information retrieval, philosophers of language and more. Advanced-level students and researchers focusing on computer science will also find this book valuable as a secondary text or reference book.

Reviews

From the book reviews:

“Web practitioners working with search engines … or simply curious fellows who are interested not only in a practical description of things, but also like to think out of the box, will find the book valuable. … definitely recommend this book to all of my doctoral students, as it stimulates deep thinking on the web qua web as a subject matter. It should be of particular interest also to students and researchers in the new field of web science.” (M. Bielikova, Computing Reviews, October, 2014)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computer Science and Artificial Intellig Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA

    Harry Halpin

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access