Semantic Tools

A new ability to reveal intent promises new opportunities.

There are many definitions of the semantic web. Fundamentally, it means the ability to take the syntax of conversations and data and the timing of that data, and draw actionable insight from it. This insight into intent and relevance can be used to improve people’s lives by helping them to collaborate, quickly find information they really want and receive marketing information they may actually find interesting.

Suppose you’re in the digital photography business and are specifically interested in people who only use Leica cameras. If you drill down further into that demographic, there’s bound to be a certain mindset and personality type that tends to like that camera. Semantic tools could give this particular niche market the ability to make deals in a group fashion. For instance, they might save money by buying equipment at a quantity discount and having it all shipped to a location where they agree to meet up – say, at an upcoming Leica convention.

Tapping into intent also allows you to message people more effectively – using GPS data on mobile phones to tie their areas of interest to their geographic area at any given moment. Semantic tools let you deduce interests based on the syntax of their conversations and their online behavior.

This all creates a powerful foundation for giving people what they want, when they want it.