A SMW adds a few new features to MW, but these additions don't affect the existing functionality of the wiki. The wiki is exactly the same as it was before SMW was installed The new featuers are broadly related to 'knowledge management', and at the simplest level, they allow facts to be added to pages. The added 'factts' give users several new functions.
Back to where we started: Motivation for SMW
Looks like a regular wiki (couple of pages)
Looks like a normal wiki: EDIT tab! Other regular page features: Logo, tabs, sidebar, etc.
Fact page! We see the presentation of some some structured data, and a factbox (both optional but common features). The normal 'edit' tab is joined by a new 'edit with form' tab on certain pages... Sign that it is probably a SMW. Like a regular wiki, we have 'red-links' for non-existent pages. I'll talk more about how red-links are different in SMW later.
Edit with form gives you funky new data entry capabilities. Form auto completion. Form validation (datatypes, formats, etc.) Upon saving, you get the factbox presenting the data you added.
Dynamic query, returning the facts from the fact page! Doesn't look like much, but its everything you need to build a community database! Dynamic Clickable, Sortable, Customizable, ...
Visualization of queried data...
Visualization of queried data...
More visualizations...
More visualizations...
More visualizations...
Semantic web! Er... yup!
Semantic web! Er... yup!
Semantic web! Er... yup!
Take 5... Talk... Come ask me a question... Use the bathroom... Leave...
Properties have just a few basic types... Pages are collections of properties, values and other information 'Complex' type
Take 5... Talk... Come ask me a question... Use the bathroom... Leave...