Fatma Ghorbel

PersonLink: An Ontology Representing Family Relationships for the CAPTAIN MEMO Memory Prosthesis

In the context of the CAPTAIN MEMO memory prosthesis for elderly, we propose the PersonLink ontology for modeling, storing and reasoning on “family relationships” links. Rules are provided to infer new links and/or check inconsistencies in the inputs. On the one hand PersonLink is as generic as possible and is integrated in the linked data formalisms; on the other hand a prosthesis has to be adaptable to users. Thus the PersonLink ontology defines rigorously and precisely family relationships, and takes into account the differences that may exist between cultures/languages, including new relationships emerging in our societies nowadays. The transition from one culture/language to another one cannot be solved with a simple translation of terms, but refers to a meta-ontology and associated mechanisms.

Visualizing Large-scale Linked Data with Memo Graph

Abstract Many studies, in the literature, have affirmed a low level of user satisfaction concerning the understandability and readability of large-scale Linked Data visualizations offered by current available tools. This issue is especially problematic for inexperienced users. To address these requirements, we have extended our previous work Memo Graph, an ontology visualization tool, to provide a user-centered interactive solution for extracting and visualizing Linked Data. It takes aim to provide comprehensible and legible visualization. To manage scalability, it is built on an incremental approach to extract descriptive summarization from a given Linked Data endpoint where it becomes possible to generate a “summary graph” from the most important data (middle-out navigation approach). It offers user interfaces that reduce task complexity for users, especially the inexperienced ones. We tested Memo Graph on a number of Linked Data datasets with encouraging results. We discuss the promising results derived from an empirical evaluation, which affirmed that Memo Graph is useful in visualizing Linked Data and usable.

A Fuzzy-Based Approach for Representing and Reasoning on Imprecise Time Intervals in Fuzzy-OWL 2 Ontology

Representing and reasoning on imprecise temporal information is a common requirement in the field of Semantic Web. Many works exist to represent and reason on precise temporal information in OWL; however, to the best of our knowledge, none of these works is devoted to represent and reason on imprecise time intervals. To address this problem, we propose a fuzzy-based approach for representing and reasoning on imprecise time intervals in ontology. Our approach is based on fuzzy sets theory and fuzzy tools and is modeled in Fuzzy-OWL 2. The 4D-fluents approach is extended, with new fuzzy components, in order to represent imprecise time intervals and qualitative fuzzy interval relations. The Allen’s interval algebra is extended in order to compare imprecise time intervals in a fuzzy gradual personalized way. Inferences are done via a set of Mamdani IF-THEN rules.

Representing Imprecise Time Intervals in OWL 2

Representing and reasoning on imprecise temporal information is a common requirement in the field of Semantic Web. Many works exist to represent and reason on precise temporal information in OWL; however, to the best of our knowledge, none of these works is devoted to imprecise temporal time intervals. To address this problem, we propose two approaches: a crisp-based approach and a fuzzy-based approach. (1) The first approach uses only crisp standards and tools and is modelled in OWL 2. We extend the 4D-fluents model, with new crisp components, to represent imprecise time intervals and qualitative crisp interval relations. Then, we extend the Allen’s interval algebra to compare imprecise time intervals in a crisp way and inferences are done via a set of SWRL rules. (2) The second approach is based on fuzzy sets theory and fuzzy tools and is modelled in Fuzzy-OWL 2. The 4D-fluents approach is extended, with new fuzzy components, in order to represent imprecise time intervals and qualitative fuzzy interval relations. The Allen’s interval algebra is extended in order to compare imprecise time intervals in a fuzzy gradual personalized way. Inferences are done via a set of Mamdani IF-THEN rules.

MEMO_Calendring: A smart reminder for Alzheimer's disease patients

From the earliest stages, Alzheimers causes memory impairments leading to perturbations on everyday life functioning. To improve autonomy, we introduce MEMO_Calendring, a smart reminder to help Alzheimers disease patients organize their daily life e.g., reminding the user to take the correct medicines on time. This intervention is proposed in the context of the ongoing CAPTAIN MEMO memory aid. Compared to related work, this intervention has four main advantages. (1) It automatically generates some additional helpful information about the scheduled events e.g., displaying the address of a place, the user needs to go to. (2) It is designed to be facile and pleasant to use. (3) It supports natural language inputs. (4) It supports multilingualism: French, Arabic and English. We evaluated the accessibility of the user interfaces of the CAPTAIN MEMO memory aid, including the MEMO_Calendring smart reminder, with 24 Alzheimers disease patients. The preliminary results confirmed that the presented user interfaces are accessible and user-friendly.

Un outil de visualisation d’ontologies pour le web des données, utilisable par tous

RÉSUMÉ. Cet article présente un outil de visualisation d ’ontologies nommé MEMO GRAPH qui permet la visualisation des données ouvertes liées. De plus, il est conçu pour être ut ilisé par tous, y compris les experts du domaine et les utilisateurs non connaisseurs des technologies du web sémantique. Il offre une interface qui illustre le concept du « Design For All » ou « design universel ». En particulier, il off re une interface utilisateur conviviale et accessible aux personnes atteintes de la maladie d ’Alzheimer. Cet outil est intégré dans la prothèse de mémoire CAPTAIN MEMO pour visualiser un jeu de données à p tite échelle (PersonLink). Il est aussi utilisé, comme application autonome, pour visualiser une partie d’un jeu de données ouvertes liées à large échelle (DBpedia). Nous évaluons l ’efficacité et l’ accessibilité de MEMO GRAPH avec des experts du domaine et des patients attei de la maladie d’Alzheimer. Les premiers résultats montrent que cet outil est efficace et convivial.

Dealing with family relationships in linked data

Many web resources require an accurate representation of family relationships. However, available ontologies describing this kind of relationships provide only simple and rudimentary representations. In addition, the transition from one culture/language to another cannot be solved with simple translation solutions, specifically when concepts do not intersect in different cultures. In this paper, we propose a new ontology, called PersonLink, that defines rigorously and precisely different family relationships, and takes into account the differences that may exist between cultures and new relationships emerging in our societies nowadays. It provides a solution based on multicultural meta-ontology of concepts and associated mechanisms. Moreover, rules are provided to infer new links and/or check inconsistencies in the inputs. The PersonLink ontology has been applied, first, in the context of the CAPTAIN MEMO memory prosthesis (for modeling, storing, and reasoning on “family relationships” links), and then, in the context of the two large scale real-world datasets, Freebase and DBpedia.