How to "rightsize" an ontology: a case of ontology-based Web information management to improve the service for handicapped persons

The paper describes the first steps of improving the semantic integration of Web information services for handicapped persons in the area of Hamburg, Germany. To specify the informational resources in use, an ontology is suggested building on three main concepts: (1) a partonomy of physical objects of which the attributes represent most of the relevant information, (2) a simple taxonomy of informational objects, (3) a relation between the informational objects and those physical objects they inform about. It is argued that the presentation of a domain-specific ontology based on these concepts has convinced the stakeholders involved to increase their cooperation in order to meet the informational needs of handicapped people moving around the Hamburg area. Summarizing the lessons learned it is discussed how taking into account stake holder perspectives contributes to rightsizing" an ontology to support Web information management.