Canberra.
The second speaker in the linked data panel at DHA 2012 [2] is Steven Hayes, who begins by introducing the network model of representing relationships between entities. This model has been employed by the Heurist database system, which Steven says represents a new ‘linked data’ mindset in humanities research.

From the perspective of that mindset, how linked are our data? Steven presents a number of criteria for ‘proper’ linked data: are they available online, in machine-readable form, using non-proprietary formats, using RDF standards, and linked to other RDF repositories, for example (the linked data checklist proposed by Tim Berners-Lee)?

Steven now assesses a number of Australian data repositories against this checklist now – including, for example, the Dictionary of Sydney or the collection of Balinese paintings – and takes us through some of the conceptual difficulties in representing such diverse datasets.

Do such assessments against ideal checklists matter, however? If datasets remain less well-linked, are they still linked data? There is a need for further Web standard development, and a clear desire to provide more linked and linkable data – but exactly how this proceeds may not follow the predesigned course desired by ‘linked data’ advocates.