The dub-dub-dub 2011 Conference (that is how they call WWW2011) was held for the first time in India, at Hyderabad, during March 28th to April 1st, and I attended it from March 30th to April 1st. The keynote speakers included: Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and also our former president, APJ Abdul Kalam.
Our former president Kalam, was as usual at his best, highlighting his vision for the nation (empower the rural and underprivileged people, through Internet & Web), and sought solutions from the research community, for NLP related challenges especially in Indian languages.
On 31st, I got a chance to listen directly to the inventor of Web: Sir Tim Berners-Lee. He did not use any slides for his presentation!, and probably it was not required, as his talk was very much animated and everyone was listening with rapt attention.
Ask him a question related to Web, and you are sure to receive a long reply, which shows his enthusiasm, excitement, and the commitment he still has over his creation, which I understood from the Q & A session, that followed his talk.
He asked the businesses, and the governments to put their data on Web, and create mechanims for an inclusive Web. He also mooted for a multi-stake holder model for governing the Internet, and eventually the Web. He talked about the extremes: Finland and Libya; He also talked about privacy concerns, and the need for being anonymous, and at the same time, highlighted the negatives associated with allowing full anonymous status.
During later part of the day, when I got a chance to directly interact, I asked him whether he still believes in his top-down approach towards Semantic Web, and after finding out that I was from C-DAC (an agency under the Govt of India), he said that govt and their departments should put all their contents on Web, in the form of Linked Data, which could pave the way for the realization of Semantic Web. He was very keen in wanting us to contribute to the linked data.
And then, I took a photograph with him, - really a memorable moment for me!, followed by my colleague and friend - Dittin Andrews.
Also, I need to mention about the General co-chair of the event: Prof. Sadagopan, who was as usual at his best - Warm & Witty. He was the prime person responsible for bringing this conference to India; first tried in 2001, and then in 2006 successfully won the bid, to bring the 2011 conference to India! Lastly about the Venue: HICC - Wonderful place to be; and I could not forget the Coffee that was served throughout the event from the WMF combiNation vending machines.
