Presentations
Semantic Interoperability - The Next Step Toward Information Integration
Many different technologies are now available to enable integration of systems at the data level. Such technologies can make multiple data sources appear to be a single, logical data repository. This approach can be an enabler for SOA. However, when logically similar data is named differently, integration can require a significant development effort to reconcile those differences. The code that enables interchange of data can introduce tigh binding and restrict the ability of each system to evolve independently. In order for the SOA approach to reach the next level, we need strategies for semantic interoperability (SI). SI should allow systems to be integrated with much less effort and should also enable them to integrate more loosely. This presentation will disuss some of the historical types of integration and set the stage for the next step.

Potential Applications of UDEF in the US Government
The Universal Data Element Framework has the potential to enable semantic interoperability between different elements of the government. Sharing or information, whether between agencies or between different levels of the government (federal, state, local) has always been problematic. This presentation will go over several potential uses of UDEF in these areas.