Converse’s Semantic Web Disease

{Ethan diagnoses you}

Converse’s Semantic Web Disease
(presented by Ethan!)
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In Ambient Findability, Peter Morville includes a discussion of the Semantic Web. In this discussion, Morville (2005, 123) quotes Tim Converse on the symptoms of a potentially fatal illness, “The Semanic Web Disease”:

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“It starts with a scratchy throat, and (if not treated promptly) progresses to a full-blown belief that content creators everywhere will work together in harmony, and speak with one (meta-) voice. In its origins (in particular, the belief that if we understand what a name/symbol/tag means, then program will too), it may be related to certain disorders of the AI family. The afflicted are often unaware of its progress, since when applied to small, cohesive communities of technically informed, well-meaning individuals… the beliefs actually make some sense…. So do yourself a favor, and ask your doctor about the free (Semantic Web Disease) screen when you get your next mental checkup.”

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Quoted in:
Morville, Peter. 2005. Ambient Findability. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Publishing.