About Me Activity Stream Contact

Hi,

My name is Benjamin Nowack and I am a web developer based in Düsseldorf, Germany. I create easy-to-use sites and applications, with a focus on the emerging Data Web.

My work has won 1st prizes at international web conferences, and I received an Invited Expert role at the World Wide Web Consortium's Semantic Web initiative. Data processors and developer toolkits I've built are used by a wide range of organisations and projects.

When I'm not coding, I enjoy learning Funk and HipHop Dance styles.

Bengee, streamified

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    First visit to Belek/Antalya, Turkey.
    19-28/06/2014
    First visit to Istanbul, Turkey.
    15-19/06/2014
    Went to Hed Kandi Party at Gibson Club in Frankfurt a.M., Germany.
    13/06/2014
    Went to Bring it to the Kö - Düsseldorf´s first Voguing Ball at GFG in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    24/05/2014
    Went to Dance Delight Germany at FFT and Burgplatz in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    17/05/2014
    Went to Flying Illusion in Oberhausen, Germany.
    11/05/2014
    Designed and implemented a new website for Unter den Linden Pellworm.
    04/2014
    First visit to Bilbao, Spain.
    18-21/04/2014
    Went to Suga Pop Locking Workshop at JC Academy in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    14/04/2014
    Went to Negus World Wide Party at KIT Bar in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    12/04/2014
    Designed a Linked Data theme for kbodata.be.
    (Client: proXML)
    03/2014
    Designed a logo for DJ Crash. View Logo
    03/2014
    Went to Let The Dance Talk in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    08/03/2014
    Went to Juste Debout World Finals in Paris Bercy, France.
    02/03/2014
    Went to Juste Debout Preselections at La Machine du Moulin Rouge in Paris, France.
    01/03/2014
    First visit to Bruges, Belgium.
    24-27/02/2014
    Designed and implemented a community system for PCOS Selbsthilfe Deutschland e.V. Learn more
    02/2014
    Went to Juste Debout Holland in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
    02/02/2014
    Went to House Dance Forever in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
    01/02/2014
    Went to "Tomatito in Concert" at Kölner Philharmonie in Cologne, Germany.
    25/01/2014
    Created a simple logo animation for JC Academy. (First experiments with Cheetah 3D)
    01/2014
    Went to the "Great Gatsby Party" at Monkey's Plaza in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    31/12/2013
    First visit to Prague, Czech Republic.
    12/2013
    Went to Funkin Stylez NRW Qualification in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    12/2013
    Implemented an XML importer and various data inferencers for brox IT-Solutions' enterprise data wiki.
    12/2013
    Started working on phweb, a PHP micro-framework.
    12/2013
    Went to Flamenco show "Con Corriente" by Compania (Maria) Angeles Gabaldon, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    11/2013
    Re-launched bnowack.de.
    11/2013
    Went to BOTY 2013 in Braunschweig, Germany.
    10/2013
    Created an in-browser chart wizard for 3 Round Stones Inc.
    10/2013
    First visit to Mahé, Seychelles.
    10/2013
    First visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE.
    09/2013
    Went to school reunion (20ths anniversary) in Isernhagen, Germany.
    09/2013
    Went to GlobalSkillz 2013 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
    09/2013
    Implemented 2 data navigation prototypes for a major financial organisation. (Client: proXML)
    09/2013
    Started learning a new sport: Wakeboarding.
    08/2013
    Created the GlobalSkillz 2013 website. View Case Study
    08/2013
    First visit to Mallorca, Spain.
    08/2013
    Created the frontend (and a few other things) of the Ordnance Survey's new Linked Data Service. View Case Study
    06/2013
    First visit to Lanzarote, Spain.
    05/2013
    First visit to Lisbon, Portugal.
    04/2013
    Started learning a new dance: House.
    04/2013
    Created and implemented a new website design for the Callimachus project. (Client: 3 Round Stones Inc)
    03/2013
    Learned a new tool: Vector graphic (and Web) design with Sketch.
    2013
    Went to Juste Debout 2013 in Paris, France.
    03/2013
    First visit to White House, Jamaica.
    02/2013
    Implemented a data editor for seevl. (Client: MDG Web Ltd)
    01/2013
    Started learning a new dance: B-Boying.
    01/2013
    Christmas trip to Brussels, Belgium.
    12/2012
    Went to BOTY 2012 in Montpellier, France.
    11/2012
    First visit to Oman.
    11/2012
    First visit to Venice, Italy.
    09/2012
    Trip to Pellworm, Germany, first time again after 12 years.
    08/2012
    First visit to Peloponnes, Greece.
    06/2012
    First visit to Curaçao.
    02/2012
    Implemented a fundus management system for COMME des COSTUMES. Learn more
    2012
    Learned a new skill: Responsive Web Design.
    2012
    Started learning a new sport: Waterskiing.
    08/2012
    Gave a talk: "From Idea to Web - Creating Linked Data Apps" at SemTechBiz conference in Berlin, Germany.
    02/2012
    Self-employed Data Web developer, consultant, and contractor for companies such as MDG Web (Ireland), 3 Round Stones (USA), Ordnance Survey (UK), brox IT-Solutions (Germany), or ProXML (Belgium).
    2012, 2013, 2014
    Christmas trip to Birmingham, UK.
    12/2011
    Started learning a new sport: Kiteboarding.
    11/2011
    First trip to Boa Vista, Cape Verde.
    11/2011
    Trip to Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
    09/2011
    Went to a Prince concert in Cologne, Germany.
    07/2011
    First visit to Kos, Greece.
    06/2011
    First visit to Cancún, Mexico.
    03/2011
    Learned a new technology: Git.
    2011
    Learned a new skill: Test-driven development.
    2011
    Learned a new skill: Graph database development with SQLite.
    2011
    Software Engineer at Talis Systems Ltd, Birmingham, UK.
    2011-2012
    Designed and implemented a task planner for PCOS Selbsthilfe Deutschland e.V. Learn more
    2011
    Implemented a custom CMS for Konzeption & Protokoll
    (Client: Näscher und Näscher) Learn more
    2011
    Implemented a team management and messaging tool for football clubs. (Client: TeamThing) Learn more
    2011
    Implemented a new website and content management system for PCOS Selbsthilfe Deutschland e.V. Learn more
    2011
    First visit to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
    10/2010
    Learned a new tool: jQuery.
    2010
    Implemented an RDF/SPARQL-based faceted browsing prototype for a cultural heritage project. (Client: proXML)
    2010
    Implemented a "Dynamic Semantic Publishing" demonstrator using CrunchBase and ReadWriteWeb data. Learn more
    08/2010
    Weinwanderung in Randersacker, Germany.
    05/2010
    Implemented parsers and conversion scripts for a UK government project. (Client: Talis)
    2010
    Implemented a faceted HTML5 video browser for TeamThing. Learn more
    2010
    First visit to Titisee, Germany.
    01/2010
    Became a member of "The Semantic Web 100".
    2010
    Moved to Florastr. 53, Düsseldorf, Germany.
    2010
    Implemented FanHubz, a social data aggregator for BBC shows. (Client: Talis) Learn more
    2009
    Implemented "DeSpamBot", a small PHP software agent that logs into POP3 accounts to remove typical spam, based on owner-defined rules.
    2009
    Implemented "Knowee", a social data aggregator. Learn more
    2009
    Designed an isometric version of the W3C Semantic Web Layer Cake
    2009
    Designed and implemented a rather crazy conference data explorer for the European Semantic Web Conference 2009.
    (Client: STI International)
    2009
    Designed and implemented a portal for PCOS Selbsthilfe Deutschland e.V..
    2009
    First visit to Dubai, UAE.
    10/2009
    Learned a new technology: Microdata.
    2009
    Became a member of "The Semantic Web Gang" podcast series.
    2009
    First visit to Sevilla, Spain.
    09/2009
    Published "Paggr: Linked Data widgets and dashboards" in the Journal of Web Semantics.
    2009
    Went to FanHubz kick-off meeting in Birmingham, UK.
    06/2009
    Gave a talk: "RDF and SPARQL for PHP Developers" at New York Semantic Web Meetup in New York City, USA.
    05/2009
    First visit to Nice, France.
    05/2009
    Gave a talk: "Semantic Microblogging" at MBC09 (Microblogging Conference) in Hamburg, Germany.
    01/2009
    Went to an Alicia Keys concert: "As I Am" Tour 2008 in Oberhausen, Germany.
    10/2008
    Received the 1st Prize for "Paggr" at the international Semantic Web Challenge in Karlsruhe, Germany.
    2008
    Presented: "SPARQL+, SPARQLScript, SPARQL Result Templates - SPARQL Extensions for the Mashup Developer" at ISWC 2008 in Karlsruhe, Germany.
    10/2008
    First visit to Mauritius.
    10/2008
    First visit to Santorini, Greece.
    08/2008
    Designed a Semantic Web Menu.
    05/2008
    Received the 1st Prize for "SPARQLBot" at the European Semantic Scripting Challenge at Tenerife, Spain.
    2008
    Joined the Programme Committee of the "Social Data on the Web" workshop.
    2008
    Joined the Programme Committee of the "PICKME" (Personal Identification and Collaborations: Knowledge Mediation and Extraction) workshop.
    2008
    Specified "poshRDF - efficient RDF extraction from microformats and similar POSH markup".
    2008
    Attended Semantic Camp in London, UK
    02/2008
    Attended SWEO F2F meeting in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
    10/2007
    Went to University reunion in Würzburg, Germany.
    08/2007
    Attended Webmontag Düsseldorf.
    07/2007
    Implemented the website and a custom content publishing system for endokrinologie-wuppertal.de.
    2007
    Released ARC2 ("ARC RDF Classes"), an RDF toolkit and SPARQL engine for PHP developers.
    2007
    Joined the Programme Committee of the "FEWS" (Finding Experts on the Web with Semantics) workshop.
    2007
    Joined the Reviewer Team of the "Semantic Web Challenge".
    2007
    Joined the Programme Committee of the "Scripting for the Semantic Web" workshop series.
    2007-2009
    Created a "SemWeb on a Slide" info graphic.
    07/2007
    Created a set of logo and icon proposals for the Semantic Web technology stack. View Logos
    06/2007
    Attended SWEO F2F meeting at Semantic Days 2007 in Stavanger, Norway.
    04/2007
    First visit to Oostcapelle, The Netherlands.
    03/2007
    Learned a new skill: Server Administration (basics).
    2007
    Invited Expert at the World Wide Web Consortium's Semantic Web Education and Outreach Group.
    2007
    Moved to Jülicher Str. 56, Düsseldorf, Germany.
    2007
    Gave a talk "Semantic Web und Web 2.0" at ZGDV in Darmstadt, Germany.
    10/2006
    First visit to Mykonos, Greece.
    09/2006
    First visit to Bielawa, Poland, hometown of my grandmother and my father's birthplace.
    06/2006
    Started learning a new dance: Locking.
    2006
    Ran a Semantic Web workshop at EDEKA in Hamburg, Germany.
    03/2006
    Learned a new technology: SVN.
    2006
    Attended Joost ("The Venice Project") hackday in London, UK.
    01/2006
    Attended Webmontag Cologne, Germany.
    01/2006
    Learned a new technology: microformats, RDFa.
    2006
    Started learning a new dance: Hip Hop Freestyle.
    2005
    Published CONFOTO: A Semantic Browsing and Annotation Service for Conference Photos in Lecture Notes in Computer Science.
    2005
    Received the 1st Prize for "CONFOTO" at the international Semantic Web Challenge in Galway, Ireland.
    2005
    Presented CONFOTO at ISWC 2005 in Galway, Ireland.
    11/2005
    Attended Semantic Web Days Munich.
    10/2005
    First visit to Ibiza, Spain.
    09/2005
    Visited San Diego and Los Angeles.
    06/2005
    First visit to Cuba.
    02/2005
    Learned a new technology: SPARQL.
    2005
    Self-employed Data Web developer and contractor for companies such as Talis Systems (UK), Intellidimension (USA), CivicActions (USA), or Asemantics (The Netherlands).
    2005-2011
    Enjoyed a few days off in Galway, Ireland.
    11/2004
    First visit to New Orleans, USA.
    06/2004
    Released first version of ARC ("Appmosphere RDF Classes"), an RDF toolkit for PHP developers.
    2004
    Published "OWLCHESTRA: Facilitating the Development and Publishing of Small-Scale Web Ontologies"
    2004
    Implemented my own blog engine and launched BNode.org blog.
    2004
    Scientific Developer at DERI (Digital Enterprise Research Institute) in Galway, Ireland.
    2004
    First Trip to Crete, Greece to attend ESWS 2004.
    05/2004
    Graduated as Diplom-Betriebswirt (FH) (near-equiv. to M.Sc.) with major in Media and Information Management, grade 1.7 (equiv. to A/A-) at Würzburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
    2004
    Completed diploma thesis: "Semantic Campus - Informationsintegration im entstehenden Semantic Web an Beispielen aus dem Hochschulbereich".
    2004
    Moved to Ladenspelderstr. 32, Essen, Germany.
    2003
    Learned a new technology: OWL.
    2004
    Created a website for the UNICEF Gala Hannover.
    2004
    Created a website for PCOS Selbsthilfe Deutschland.
    2004
    Attended FoafCamp 2004 in Enschede, Netherlands.
    08/2004
    Trip to New York City and Philadelphia, USA.
    2003
    Learned a new technology: RDF.
    2003
    Learned a new skill: Screen Design (#Photoshop, #PaintShopPro).
    2003
    Learned a new skill: CSS-based layouting.
    2003
    Completed the "AEVO-Ausbildereignungsprüfung" (instructor-qualifying examination / Chamber of Commerce) in Würzburg, Germany.
    2003
    First visit to Antwerp, Begium.
    2002
    First visit to Bali, Indonesia.
    2002
    First visit to Fuerteventura, Spain.
    2001
    New Year's trip to Paris, France.
    2000
    Learned a new technology: XML.
    2000
    Tech Lead at newsme GmbH (Munich, Germany).
    2000
    Studied Media and Information Management at Würzburg University of Applied Sciences in Würzburg, Germany.
    2000-2003
    Learned a new skill: PHP/MySQL development (after Perl, ASP, and ColdFusion).
    1999
    Learned a new technology: JavaScript.
    1997
    Moved to Am Exerzierplatz 1, Würzburg, Germany.
    1997
    Worked as student assistant at the Institute of Business Information Integration at Würzburg University, where I helped develop E-Commerce systems.
    1996-1998
    Studied Business Administration with area specialisation New Media at Würzburg University, Germany.
    1996-1999
    Learned a new technology: HTML (#WebExplorer, #OS/2).
    12/1995
    Team-leading host at InterCris Messeagentur GmbH in Hannover, Germany.
    1995-2000
    Studied Mathematics and Computer Science at Würzburg University, Germany.
    1994-1996
    Moved to Rottendorfer Str. 29b, App. 49L, Würzburg, Germany.
    1994
    First visit to New York, California, Nevada, and Florida, USA.
    08/1993
    Received the Higher Education entrance qualification ("Abitur"), grade 12 points (equiv. to A/A-), at Gymnasium Isernhagen, Germany.
    1993
    Started learning a new dance: Tap.
    1991
    First visit to St. Jean de Luz and Paris, France.
    07/1990
    Started learning a new dance: Ballroom.
    1988
    First visit to Torquay and London, UK.
    07/1987
    Started learning a new Language: French.
    1986
    First visit to Sankt Peter-Ording, Germany.
    1984
    Started learning a new Language: English.
    1984
    First visit to Helgoland, Germany.
    1982
    Moved to Sophienkamp 10, Isernhagen, Germany.
    1974
    Born in Hannover, Germany.
    14/08/1973

    Get in Touch!

    Send an email to or call me on PLUS 49 DASH 177 DASH 5241935.

    You can also catch me on social networking services:

    And I still have an "account" in real life as well:

    Benjamin Nowack
    Florastr. 53
    40217 Düsseldorf
    Germany