The Representation of Context in Computer Software

Computers do not have the equivalent of a human cognitive system and therefore store data simply as the numbers and words that are entered into the computer. For a computer to interpret data it requires an information structure that provides at least some level of context. This can be accomplished utilizing an ontology of objects with characteristics, semantic behavior, and a rich set of relationships to create a virtual version of real world situations and provide the context within which intelligent logic (e.g., agents) can automatically operate. This paper discusses the process of developing ontologies that serve to provide context for agents to interpret and reason about data changes in decision-support software tools, services and systems