In this chapter, we analyze the relationships between the Internet and its users in terms of situated cognition theory. We first argue that the Internet is a new kind of cognitive ecology, providing almost constant access to a vast amount of digital information that is increasingly more integrated into our cognitive routines. We then briefly introduce situated cognition theory and its species of embedded, embodied, extended, distributed and collective cognition. Having thus set the stage, we begin by taking an embedded cognition view and analyze how the Internet aids certain cognitive tasks. After that, we conceptualize how the Internet enables new kinds of embodied interaction, extends certain aspects of our embodiment, and examine how wearable technologies that monitor physiological, behavioral and contextual states transform the embodied self. On the basis of the degree of cognitive integration between a user and Internet resource, we then look at how and when the Internet extends our cognitive processes. We end this chapter with a discussion of distributed and collective cognition as facilitated by the Internet.

Abstract. The successful application of Grid and Web Service technologies to real-world problems, such as e-Science [1], requires not only the development of a common vocabulary and meta-data framework as the basis for inter-agent communication and service integration but also the access and use of a rich repository of domain-specific knowledge for problem solving. Both requirements are met by the respective outcomes of ontological and knowledge engineering initiatives. In this paper we discuss a novel, knowledge-based approach to resource synthesis (service composition), which draws on the functionality of semantic web services to represent and expose available resources. The approach we use exploits domain knowledge to guide the service composition process and provide advice on service selection and instantiation. The approach has been implemented in a prototype workflow construction environment that supports the runtime recommendation of a service solution, service discovery via semantic service descriptions, and knowledge-based configuration of selected services. The use of knowledge provides a basis for full automation of service composition via conventional planning algorithms. Workflows produced by this system can be executed through a domain-specific direct mapping mechanism or via a more fluid approach such as WSDL-based service grounding. The approach and prototype have been used to demonstrate practical benefits in the context of the Geodise initiative [2].

As the Web has developed into a global social platform there has been increasing interest in a particular class of systems known as 'social machines'. Social machines are typically presented as systems that combine some form of social participation with conventional forms of machine-based 'computation'. Beyond this rather general characterization, however, there is little consensus as to what the term 'social machine' actually means. Furthermore, little has been done to explore the core features of social machines and examine differences between them. This limits our understanding of the kinds of social machine that currently exist, and it also limits our ability to imagine the kinds of social machine that could emerge in the future. In this chapter, we introduce a taxonomy for the description and classification of social machines that could be used to frame the scholarly discourse around social machines and identify aspects of the social machine research effort that deserve further consideration. As part of this effort, we propose a definition of social machines that puts them in relation to the broader class of socio-technical systems, while distinguishing them from other kinds of technology-mediated social participation system; for example, human computation systems and collective intelligence systems. The taxonomic framework we present serves to extend our understanding of social machines. It includes a total of 33 dimensions and 106 associated characteristics. Together, these specify the space of all (theoretically possible) social machine types.

Abstract. One of the main ingredients in discourse about British politics concerns the extent to which, and under what conditions, central government can get its own way. Since 1979, the country has been ruled by a prime minister and a government placing at least rhetorical emphasis on the ‘politics of conviction’. At the same time we have a well established academic literature giving emphasis to the various hurdles in the policy‐making process which face even a government with a working parliamentary majority. The purpose of this paper is to trace the steps in the process towards the government achieving one of its manifesto commitments; the sale of 51 per cent of British Telecom shares to the private sector. In so doing, it is intended to analyse this example of the policy process in terms of the predominant British policy style.

Abstract. Query formulation is a key aspect of information retrieval, contributing to both the efficiency and usability of many semantic applications. A number of query languages, such as SPARQL, have been developed for the Semantic Web; however, there are, as yet, few tools to support end users with respect to the creation and editing of semantic queries. In this paper we introduce NITELIGHT, a Web-based graphical tool for semantic query construction that is based on the W3C SPARQL specification. NITELIGHT combines a number of features to support end-users with respect to the creation of SPARQL queries. These include a columnar ontology browser, an interactive graphical design surface, a SPARQL-compliant visual query language, a SPARQL syntax viewer and an integrated semantic query results browser. The functionality of each of these components is described in the current paper. In addition, we discuss the potential contribution of the NITELIGHT tool to rule creation/editing and semantic integration capabilities.