This document proposes a graphical user interface (GUI) model to visualize and interact with smart space information for non-technical users. The GUI would allow users to create simple IF-THEN rules without programming knowledge, using semantic graph-based data and ontologies. Each rule would be converted to a SPARQL query and published using a subscription architecture. The goal is to provide an accessible environment for developing smart space applications while abstracting away technical complexities and leveraging semantic web technologies. Future work includes expanding support for fuzzy reasoning and defining higher-level human behaviors.

1. Extending Semantic Web tools for improving Smart
Spaces interoperability and usability
Natalia Díaz Rodríguez & Johan Lilius
Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS),
Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
M.P. Cuéllar & Miguel Delgado Calvo-Flores
University of Granada, Spain
DCAI’13, Salamanca, 23.5.13
1

2. Introduction
§ Smart Spaces (UbiComp): interoperability, working on
behalf of the user, handle unanticipated situations
2

3. Introduction
§ Context-awareness for machine processing and reasoning.
§ Semantic Technologies and Ontologies: independent
knowledge sharing minimizing redundancy.
3

4. Programming environments for novice
programmers
4
[Scratch]
[IFTTT]

5. 5
Programming environments for novice
programmers
[Twine]
[Valpas]

6. Related Work
§ End-user Domain Specific Languages
– IF-THEN and ECA rule languages to create services
– Rapid test and iteration of ubicomp applications
§ What is missing?
– Underlying semantic capabilities
– Support for imprecise expressions
– Visual GUI for interacting with both fuzzy ontologies
and fuzzy rules
– General Domain
6

7. Our proposal’s Contribution
A GUI model to visualize and interact with Smart Space
information.
– User-customized applications
– No knowledge of programming nor Semantic Web
– Semantic graph-based data
– Simple IF-THEN rules
– Publish/subscribe architecture using Smart-M3.
– Imprecise knowledge support
– Guidelines for visual language design
7

8. Mapping OWL 2 to visual rule entities
8

9. 9

10. Equivalent SPARQL Query
10
§ Each rule is converted into a SPARQL query, which
can be transformed to a Smart-M3 subscription.

11. Mapping a visual rule to SPARQL
Algorithm
§ Input: Graphical IF-THEN rule.
§ Output: SPARQL query, [subscription].
§ IF-THEN rule parsing algorithm principles:
– IF conditions => Add RDF Triple patterns to WHERE clause
– THEN actions =>
a) Add Triple patterns to INSERT or DELETE clause
b) External application execution
Parameters:
• Must be defined in IF clause
• Add Triple to SELECT clause
11

12. Conclusions
§ Providing ordinary end-users with flexible and functional
Smart Space environment:
– Rapid development of mash-ups applications with rules
– Abstracting away technical details
– Exploiting potential of SW technologies
– General purpose visual language, correct by construction.
– Query federation and imprecise knowledge representation
§ Evolve the SW from data modelling to computational medium
§ Applications:AmI, e-Health, Home Automation, etc.
12

13. Future Work
§ Work in progress: further usability studies
§ Support for fuzzy reasoning
§ Visual model for defining higher level human
behaviours
§ Functionality: rule sharing and access control
13

14. References
§ [Scratch] M. Resnick, J. Maloney, A. Monroy-
Hernandez, N. Rusk, E. Eastmond, K. Brennan, A.
Millner, E. Rosenbaum, J. Silver, B. Silverman, and Y. B.
Kafai. Scratch: programming for all.
§ [Valpas] Communications of the ACM, 52(11):60–67,
2009. A. Rex. Design of a caregiver programmable
assistive intelligent environment. Aalto University,
2011.
§ [Twine] http://supermechanical.com/twine
§ [IFTTT] http://ifttt.com
14

15. Thank you for your attention!
Natalia Díaz Rodríguez
ndiaz@abo.fi
Embedded Systems Lab. Department of Information Technologies
Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
TUCS (Turku Centre for Computer Science)
Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
University of Granada, Spain
15