Amit Sheth
Director, Large Scale Information Systems Lab
Department of Computer Science
University of Georgia
415 Graduate Studies Research Center
Athens  GA  30602-7404 USA
+1-706-542-2310 (direct)  -2911 (sec.) -2966 (fax)
amit@cs.uga.edu
http://lsdis.cs.uga.edu

Abstract

This talk starts with a look at the key concerns of interoperability that researchers have addressed in developing Federated Database Systems in 80's and in the research projects of mid-90's that have integrated a broader variety of heterogeneous data. We then make a case for increasing need to address the interoperability challenges at metadata and semantic levels to enable (what I call) Infocosm-- a society characterized by information any time, any where, and in many form, for effective decision making, better development and utilization for human intellect through knowledge intensive activities, and more fun.

In the process, we will look at the interoperability concerns in the context of three perspectives: (a) distribution, heterogeneity, and
autonomy, (b) data, metadata and semantic (terminological, contextual), and (c) connectivity + computation, information and knowledge. We will give examples from relevant systems we have closely observed or are developing-- DDTS/Mermaid, InfoHarness and InfoQuit. In particular, the opportunities and interoperability related challenges presented by increased accessibility of heterogeneous digital media in Internet/Intranets will be discussed.