Handelsblatt Tagung 23 Jan 2012 slide-10

Semantics are Hard

because they are so soft.

The issue is formalizing the representation of human knowledge so that computers can use it and people can write it.

We need an easy common formal language that lets us say:

"You must have a valid drivers license, be 18 years of age, and be at our location on weekdays between the hours of 08:00 and 17:00 local time. Then you can rent a car."

"Inside Diameter" is measured this way

This part should be manufactured so that it can be inserted from this end.

And the language respects formal semantics sufficient for planning-based composition

But doesn't look like
F(x,do(a,s)) ≡ ϒ_F⁺(x,a,s) ∨ (F(x,s) ∧ ¬ϒ_F^-(x,a,s)

And somehow match the requirements language and the service language.

Why should we think tags or Wikipedia would be up to this?
And how will academic projects like SOA4ALL make common semantics practical?
But practical semantics must evolve^[1]. Because we need dynamic processes and change management.

^[1] "The Semantics of Semantics"