Semantic MediaWiki and Wikidata

From semantic-mediawiki.org
Table of Contents

About Wikidata[edit]

The goal of Wikidata is to create a common data repository (something similar to Wikimedia Commons) where data can be shared among other Wikimedia projects and by/with third parties.

Differences between SMW and Wikidata[edit]

Figure 1:
Figure 2:

The main use case of Wikidata (a centralised, multi-lingual site that serves as a data repository) is different from that of SMW (a data-enhanced MediaWiki), and this leads to a number of differences.

Central to a wikidata statement is that its factual claim is supported by reference(s) (source of the claim). For example, when SMW makes a claim about the population of Berlin it would only be annotated with Berlin has a population of 3,5 Mio (see Figure 1) where Wikidata would make an extended statement describing it as Berlin's population being 3,5 Mio as of 2011 according to the German statistical office (see Figure 2).

As of Semantic MediaWiki 2.5.0Released on 14 March 2017 and compatible with MW 1.23.0 - 1.29.x. there is a datatype "Reference"Holds a value that associates it to individual defined provenance metadata record that allows to record individual defined provenance metadata.

In summary
  • Every fact will also have an (optional) reference
  • Wikidata will also use more complex datatypes (e.g., since many text values can be translated).
  • Both Wikidata and SMW are still mostly based on property-value assignments, and Wikidata will have a Property namespace.
  • Complex structures in Wikidata could be captured in SMW using subobjects

Common denominators of SMW and Wikidata[edit]

Integration between SMW and Wikidata[edit]

For a first example, see Service links and the page for Vienna with the Property:Wikidata ID. It demonstrates, how Service links or External identifiers can be used to link values of a SMW property to Wikidata IDs.

Technical background[edit]

The software underlying Wikidata is called Wikibase. It consists of two extensions: Repository (where data is stored; this will run at wikidata.org) and Client (that pulls data into other MediaWiki sites; this will run at wikipedia.org). Both extensions will be installable on MediaWiki sites to get Wikidata-like features there.

The user interface of Wikibase Repository will be based on input forms, a bit like a full-page, editable Factbox, but much more advanced, with a lot of support for entering values.

Query language[edit]

Ideas for a integration of SMW and Wikibase/Wikidata[edit]

  • Push data from SMW to a Wikibase instance (as it would be done wich any other triple store)
  • Push data from SMW to Wikidata.
  • Import ontolgies from Wikidata to SMW instances
  • https://professional.wiki/en/articles/semantic-wikibase
  • Consuming data from Wikidata in your SMW instance. There are several approaches:
    • get the data via SPARQL using the extension Linked Wiki
    • get the data via JSON using the extension External Data
    • get the data via JSON and accessing data based on the property Wikidata ID using the extension WikidataShow

See also[edit]

Talks and presentations

A total of 17 contributions were made to concerning Semantic MediaWiki and Wikidata:

ContributionDescriptionSpeakerKeywordsType
Natural Language Queries to Wikidata: A Naïve PrototypeIn this lightning talk, we'll delve into a prototype I've been tinkering with, which is all about enabling more intuitive interactions with Wikidata through natural language queries.Robert Timmwikidata,
llm,
rag,
prototype
Lightning talk
Wikidata Synchronization for the CEUR-WS publishing platform use caseData synchronization between Wikidata and SMW on the CEUR-WS use case.Tim HolzheimwikidataLightning talk,
Tutorial,
In session
Linked Data with SMWThe next SMW release will include schema.org and other vocabularies ready for re-use. The tutorial will cover aspects of linking to external data sources, re-using external vocabularies, and providing identifiers to be used to link to your own wiki.Bernhard Krabinaimport vocabulary,
linked data,
wikidata,
datatype external identifier
Tutorial,
In session
Linked Data with SMW (Tutorial)How to use external vocabularies (e. g. FOAF) and reference to external idenifiers (e. g. Wikidata ID) with SMW.Bernhard KrabinaWikidata,
semantc web,
linked data
Tutorial
Wikidata Walkabout: a drill-down interface for WikidataYaron KorenWikidataTalk
What's new in the world of Wikibase and where is it going?An overview of what's new around Wikibase and the plans we have for the Wikibase Ecosystem.Lydia Pintscher,
Jens Ohlig
wikibase,
wikidata
Talk
Four years of Wikidata - where we are, what we learned and what's coming nextThis presentation will provide an insight into the past four years of Wikidata and the upcoming future.Lydia Pintscherwikidata,
wikibase extension,
content management
Presentation
Semantic MediaWiki for Assessment in EducationLloyd Rutledgewikidata,
wikibase extension,
content management
Talk
From graphs to tablesThe case for storing semantic data in tables instead of, or in addition to, graphs - for SMW/Cargo, Wikidata, and beyondYaron KorenCargo,
Wikidata,
templates
Talk
Wikibase, the Software behind WikidataLast year, Wikidata, the project that brings structured data to Wikipedia, was presented at SMWCon. This talk is all about Wikibase, the software behind Wikidata.Jeroen De DauwWikidata,
Wikibase
Talk
SMW between OpenData, OpenGLAM, Linked Data and the Semantic WebOverview of the Semantic MediaWiki ecosystem, it's todays relevance in relation to OpenData, WikiData, OpenGLAM and the Semantic Web.Bernhard Krabinaopen data,
wikidata,
dbpedia,
glam,
Semantic Web
Talk
BlueForge Feature Matrix: WikiData - An experience reportThis talk covers the experience made with Wikidata by "Hallo Welt! Medienwerkstatt GmbH". It's about why we chose it and what were the difficulties we had to deal with.Markus Glaser,
Robert Vogel
Wikidata,
BlueForge,
API
Talk,
Technical talk
Hands-on session 3. Wikidata programmingA tutorial showing you how to use Wikidata to enrich data in your wikiDaniel Kinzler,
Tobias Gritschacher
MediaWiki,
Wikidata,
API
Tutorial
State of WikidataA quick look at what Wikidata has achieved so far and where it is goingLydia PintscherWikidataTalk
Using the Wikidata APIAn introduction to the Wikidata APIDaniel Kinzler,
Tobias Gritschacher
MediaWiki,
Wikidata,
API
Tutorial
Breaking News Detection with Wikidata and WikipediaThis talk informs about the work of incorporating Wikidata in "Wikipedia Live Monitor" tool.Thomas Steinerbreaking news detection,
wikidata,
wikipedia
Talk
WikidataWikidata: Semantic WikipediaDenny VrandečićWikidataKeynote