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Subject: RE: [xtm-wg] The Future of TopicMaps.Org
Although I can hardly claim to be impartial in this matter, I also have a lot at stake in the success of the Topic Map paradigm. I also have a lot riding on XTM as an expression of the Topic Map paradigm I think that some combination of Steve's proposed opitions might be useful. In the first place, the primary responsibility for the Topic Map paradigm, as defined by ISO/IEC 13250, lies in ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34, and the actual work is done in SC34/WG3, which Steve convenes. In SC34, the specific responsibility for Topic Maps lies with the editors, Michel Biezunski, Martin Bryan, and Steve Newcomb. Anything that purports to represent the whole of the Topic Map universe needs to work through the SC34 structure if it is to make much claim to be authoritiative. SC34 has several resources available for bringing in the obviously very valuable work that has been done by TM.org. In particular, I sense near unanimous agreement on the XTM 1.0 DTD. The DTD could easily be added to ISO/IEC 13250 and thus have the full weight of an ISO/IEC standard behind it, in addition to its being something we agree among ourselves about. Putting the work in JTC1 has other advantages. JTC1 has liaison with the W3C that has been used in the past for joint development projects (e.g., Web CGM, SVG). I think that most of us want the W3C to pay attention to XTM. Having it come from JTC1 would add a lot of emphasis to XTM. One of the objections I often hear to participation in ISO work is that it takes involvment in some national standards body and a lot of associated expense. While I obviously don't want to denigrate the national bodies, particularly after they all strongly endorsed ISO/IEC 13250, I want to point out that there is another, much less expensive way to participate in SC34. The International SGML/XML Users' Group has a long-standing liaison membership in SC34, through which it has had very significant influence on the development of SC34's standards. Case in point, ISO 13250: at times, all three of the editors were participating in SC34 on behalf of ISUG. It cost $62 to join ISUG. If you pay your dues, Charles Goldfarb (the delegation leader) and I (the ISUG president) can add you to the ISUG delegation, and you can participate in any SC34 meeting or discussion. (Added benefits of ISUG membership are a $50 discount on registration at a GCA conference and the chance to join OASIS for $125.) I agree that there's a need for a marketing front in addition to a technical development front for the project. The ISUG board is already interested in participating in that sort of activity (including financial support) and will discuss it at the ISUG General Meeting at XML Europe 2001. OASIS certainly should be considered. OASIS has the very obvious strength that it has a full-time staff and experience in marketing. Jim Mason James David Mason, Ph.D. (Chairman ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34) http://www.y12.doe.gov/sgml/sc34 Y-12 National Security Complex Bldg. 9113, Room 337I P.O. Box 2009, M.S. 8208 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8208 +1 865 574 6973 > -----Original Message----- > From: Steve Pepper [SMTP:pepper@ontopia.net] > Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 10:42 a.m. > To: xtm-wg@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [xtm-wg] The Future of TopicMaps.Org > > I would like to start a discussion about the future of > TopicMaps.Org. > > I believe that the time has come to rethink our whole future > strategy for the furtherance of topic mapping. TM.Org set out > to adapt ISO 13250 for use on the Web and that goal has been > achieved. Whatever its flaws, XTM 1.0 is something we can all > be proud of. > > But there is more work to be done, both in terms of promoting > the specification, building the community, and extending the > specification to cover processing, templates, queries, etc. > > Producing XTM 1.0 was a heroic effort by all concerned, but it > came at a high price, that of dividing the topic map community. > As a result, TopicMaps.Org no longer has the authority, in my > opinion, to play the vital role of custodian of the XTM spec in > the future. > > I would like to propose a new organization to which we transfer > the rights to XTM. I see three alternatives: > > (1) TM.Org could reinvent itself > (2) We could create a new organization > (3) We could join an existing organization > > Whichever route we choose, the first prerequisite is that it > should have the backing of the whole community. I am currently > tending towards alternative (3) as being the most realistic. > OASIS has been mentioned as a possibility; there may be others. > > The goals of the new organization should be: > > 1. Reunite the topic map community. > 2. Put significant marketing effort into promoting understanding > and use of the topic map paradigm for the global interchange > and federation of knowledge. > 3. Act as the custodian of the XTM specification. > 4. Provide the forum for further development of the paradigm. > 5. (other) > > It goes without saying that all positions in TopicMaps.Org, > including that of editorship, should be reassigned as part of > this regroupment. I am ready to resign as editor at any time to > help achieve this. > > I would like to hear the opinions of members of TM.Org (i.e. all > readers of this mailing list, not just AG members, past and > present). > > Best regards, > > Steve > > -- > Steve Pepper, Chief Technology Officer <pepper@ontopia.net> > Convenor, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/WG3 Editor, XTM (XML Topic Maps) > Ontopia AS, Waldemar Thranes gt. 98, N-0175 Oslo, Norway. > http://www.ontopia.net/ phone: +47-23233080 GSM: +47-90827246 > > > > To Post a message, send it to: xtm-wg@eGroups.com > > To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: xtm-wg-unsubscribe@eGroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~> Secure your servers with 128-bit SSL encryption! Grab your copy of VeriSign's FREE Guide, "Securing Your Web site for Business." Get it now! http://us.click.yahoo.com/4cW4jC/e.WCAA/bT0EAA/2n6YlB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> To Post a message, send it to: xtm-wg@eGroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: xtm-wg-unsubscribe@eGroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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