GNOWSYS: A System for Semantic Computing

Nagarjuna G.

Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education,
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,
Mumbai India 400088,
,
http://web.gnowledge.org

nagarjun@gnowledge.org

Abstract:

The purpose of this essay is to introduce a heterogeneous computing environment with a possibility of semantic and formal annotations, covering the motivation, architecture, and functionality of the system called GNOWSYS (Gnowledge Networking and Organizing System). GNOWSYS is a system to specify, publish and query about multiple logics, ontologies, and epistemologies. Its kernel includes three semantic layers with increasing order of semantic specification, three groups of component classes for storing objects of various complexity in the knowledge base, and three levels of generality with objects belonging to tokens, types and metatypes. It has component classes for representing both declarative and procedural knowledge, and the latter specification is executable enabling semantic and visual computing. It is specially made for publishing vocabularies, propositions, ontologies, complex systems, web services, with or without formal annotation. Its architecture is not frozen, and is still actively taking shape. Hence a purpose of this communication is also a request for comments.