(Draft 2) text for call for proposals

[robert_weir@us.ibm.com]

Here is a second draft. 

Patrick suggested we have a more compelling lead paragraph.   I considered 
saying "The Power of XML compels you !" and repeating it 3 or 4 times, but 
on further reflection abandoned that approach.  But I did try to jazz it 
up a little to encourage the reader to read further.

Mary also brought up an interesting timing aspect of this.  Since we will 
likely end up with proposals coming in during the ODF 1.2 pubic review 
periods, even from people who are unaware of this ODF-Next call for 
proposals, we should probably time the comment period accordingly.  So I'd 
suggest that we start the call to coincide with the approval of the next 
Committee Draft of ODF 1.2, and conclude it when the last part of ODF 1.2 
has ended its public review.  This will likely cause us to miss the May 
1st deadline we originally conceived, but it will ensure that we don't 
write up the ODF-Next report while relevant comments are still coming in.

-Rob

---------------------------------------

"We have it in our power to begin the world over again"  -- Thomas Paine 
(Common Sense, 1776)

You are invited to help define the feature set of the next revision of 
OASIS OpenDocument Format (ODF). Help us take "ODF-Next" to a higher stage 
of document evolution. Be creative.  Push the envelope.  Be provocative. 
Change the paradigm.  Start a revolution.. The only limits on our vision 
are our own.

The OASIS ODF TC has recently finalized the approval of technical 
proposals which will be included in ODF 1.2.  After these proposals are 
integrated into the ODF 1.2 draft, and remaining editorial tasks are 
completed, the draft specification will be sent on for Public Review, and 
then finally onto a ballot for approval as an OASIS Standard. 

Concurrent with these final stages of ODF 1.2 work -- which may take 
several months -- the ODF TC wishes to start a public conversation related 
to the technical contents of "ODF-Next", the provisional name for the next 
major version of ODF.   The ODF TC has created a subcommittee, the ODF 
Requirements Subcommittee, chaired by Bob Jolliffe (email address here), 
in order to gather, categorize and prioritize proposals for ODF-Next, and 
to report back tot he ODF TC with recommendations.  The target for this 
report is May 1st, 2009.

We wish to now start gathering proposals now, from TC members, from the 
OASIS community, from ODF implementors, government, academia, and from the 
public at large.  What features should be added?  What capabilities do we 
need?  Where do we want to take ODF next?  We want you to think broadly 
and boldly on where we can take this standard in the next major revision.

Some things to keep in mind:

1) ODF is a standard for a document format.  It is not a standard for a 
word processor or spreadsheet application.  So proposals will need to 
touch upon items that are reflected in the stored document.  Requests to 
change the UI of an application, or make it print faster, are examples of 
things that are out of scope.

2) The more detail you can provide in the proposal, the better.  If a 
specific change is requested, please give section references relative to 
the latest ODF 1.2 Committee Draft (insert URL here).

3) All proposals will need to be submitted in accordance with OASIS IPR 
Policy to the ODF TC's public comment list.  Information on joining this 
list can be found here (insert URL here).  Please also indicate "ODF-Next" 
as part of the subject line of your post.

4) All proposals previously submitted to the ODF TC's public comment list 
will automatically be considered for ODF-Next.  So there is no need to 
resubmit an idea if it was already previously submitted.

5) For inclusion in the ODF-Next report, proposals must be received by 
March 31st, 2009.


We welcome and look forward to your contributions !