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Flodio project

What is Flodio projet

Flodio is a semantic mapping software library.

Aim of Flodio project

The aim of Flodio project is :

  1. display semantic datas in a network graph,
  2. help user to navigate easily into the graph using the FLOD concept.

How does it work ?

The FLOD to represent triplets

It network-maps the data of a semantic server based on SemApps, a semantic toolbox strongly inspired by the SOLID project of the W3C.

It implements the principle of FLOD, a concept that improves the experience of navigating a graph.

It is based on the structuring of information into triplets (see Semantic Web).

Example

If you want to represent all these informations :

  • Virtual Assembly is an organization
  • Virtual Assembly participate to SemApps
  • SemApps is based on Solid
  • W3C participate to Solid
  • W3C is a consortium

This knowledge graph could be represented as follows :

Problem to solve

When the graph is too large, with too complicated relations, it can be difficult for the human brain to find its bearings and navigate through the mass of information.

For exemple, here a schema representing a bigger graph.

To read and integrate the content of this graph, the eyes and the brain don't know where to start, or in which direction to read it. All the nodes in the graph are at the same level, and you can go off in any direction. This is precisely the difference between a graph and a mind map. A graph is a network, all the nodes can be connected together, whereas a mind map is a tree. It has a reading direction, from the center to the leaves. With a graph, everyone can read it in their own way, and the user is not helped.

Fortunately, there's the flod !

Flod Concept

Meaning

FLOD means "Fluid Linked Open Data".

See definition of LOD on wikipedia.

What is a Flod ?

It's an interaction between the human and the graph that allows them to choose how they want to display the information.

It allows you to visualise triplets with two views :

  • a graph mode
  • a page mode.

Graph mode view

Object is linked to subject with a link

  • Predicate can be displayed on hover
  • When you hover a node,
  • Disadvantage : the two nodes may be very far apart in the graphs, or even not displayed on the screen.

Page mode view

Object is put into the subject box.

  • When you click on a node, it opens, enlarges and displays the neighbours vertically inside.
  • Advantage 1: You can read the content as if you were reading a book or web page, from top to bottom.
  • Advantage 2: The rest of the graph continues to appear behind and around the Flod.
  • Advantage 3: It is then possible to ‘navigate’ through the graph from close to close by clicking on each neighbour.
  • Advantage 4: A Flod panel appear on pop up and display other properties of the node.