Ubiquity of Information and Context: Activity Theoretical Perspective on the Claims and Promises of Semantic Web

In ubiquitous environments the transition from data to knowledge is becoming significant as more and more data is captured by numerous, usually separated technologies. These technologies are labeled as automated agents, semantic web or ubiquitous computing. As information is data with a certain meaning and knowledge is information with understanding how to apply it in a certain situation, the notion of context is emphasized. In this paper, we use activity theory to analyze this transition of data to knowledge in the context of ubiquitous computing and semantic web. We ground our argument to several examples where human activities are needed in applying information in the everyday life. As a result, we discuss the claims and promises of semantic web and ubiquitous technologies and to what extent they can be achieved. We argue that the role of these technologies is in assisting, mediating or supporting the users’ activities and decision making, not making knowledgeable decisions for their behalf.