reading, based on phrasing and on knowledge about what kinds of things one is
likely to ask the Web, and in what way.

Several projects are now building, or proposing to build, such large "concept"
networks. This is not something one can do in two years, and not something that
has a correct result. We have to develop both the network and the techniques for
building it semi-automatically and self-adaptively. This is a big challenge.

= What do you think about the debate concerning copyright on the Web? What
practical solutions would you suggest?

As an academic, I am of course one of the parasites of society, and hence all in
favor of free access to all information. But as a part-owner of a small startup
company, I am aware of how much it costs to assemble and format information, and
the need to charge somehow.

To balance these two wishes, I like the model by which raw information (and some
"raw" resources, such as programming languages and basic access capabilities
like the Web search engines) are made available for free. This creates a market
and allows people to do at least something. But processed information, and the
systems that help you get and structure just exactly what you need, I think
should be paid for. That allows developers of new and better technology to be
rewarded for their effort.

Take an example: a dictionary, today, is not free. Dictionary companies refuse
to make them available to research groups and others for free, arguing that they
have centuries of work invested. (I have had several discussions with dictionary
companies on this.) But dictionaries today are stupid products -- you have to
know the word before you can find the word! I would love to have something that
allows me to give an approximate meaning, or perhaps a sentence or two with a
gap where I want the word I am looking for, or even the equivalent in another
language, and returns the word(s) I am looking for. This is not hard to build,
but you need the core dictionary to start with. I think we should have the core
dictionary freely available, and pay for the engine (or the service) that allows
you to enter partial or only somewhat accurate information and helps you find
the best result.

A second example: you should have free access to all the Web, and to basic
search engines like those available today. No copyrights, no license fees. But
if you want an engine that provides a good targeted answer, pinpointed and
evaluated for tru