The W3C has released a slew of new semantic web technology specifications, related to the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the OWL Web Ontology Language.

Susan Lesch provides the details:

Resource Description Framework (RDF) Is a W3C Proposed Recommendation: W3C is pleased to announce the advancement of the Resource Description Framework (RDF) to Proposed Recommendation. Comments are invited through 19 January. The RDF language is presented in six technical reports. RDF is used to represent information and to exchange knowledge in the Web.

• RDF/XML Syntax Specification (Revised): Update for XML, namespaces, the Infoset, and XML Base
• RDF Vocabulary Description Language 1.0: RDF Schema: Describes how to use RDF to build RDF vocabularies. Defines a basic vocabulary and conventions for use by Semantic Web applications
• RDF Semantics: Formal mathematical theory for reasoning about RDF data
• RDF Primer: An introduction for all readers
• RDF Test Cases: Machine-processable test cases
• Resource Description Framework (RDF): Concepts and Abstract Syntax: Syntax, design goals, concepts, the meaning of RDF documents, character normalization and handling of URI references

OWL Web Ontology Language Is a W3C Proposed Recommendation : W3C is pleased to announce the advancement of the OWL Web Ontology Language (OWL) to Proposed Recommendation. Comments are invited through 19 January. OWL is used to publish and share sets of terms called ontologies, supporting advanced Web search, software agents and knowledge management. The OWL language is presented in six parts.

• OWL Overview: A simple introduction
• OWL Guide: Demonstrates OWL through an extended example. Provides a glossary
• OWL Reference: A compact, informal description of OWL modelling primitives
• OWL Semantics and Abstract Syntax: Normative definition of the OWL language
• OWL Test Cases: Test cases illustrating correct OWL usage, the formal meaning of constructs, and resolution of issues. Specifies conformance
• OWL Use Cases and Requirements: Usage scenarios, goals and requirements for a Web ontology language