RE: [user-assistance-discuss] Clarifying Our Goals

["Rob Frankland" <torobf@earthlink.net>]

I have sent invites to almost all the HAT vendors - am still working on a
couple email addresses. I do believe their participation is very important.

Rob


Rob Frankland
Sock Monkey Consulting
12408 Kallgren RD NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-3328
Phone: 206-780-8850
Email: torobf@earthlink.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Meyer [mailto:pmeyer@elkera.com.au] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 3:44 PM
To: user-assistance-discuss@lists.oasis-open.org
Subject: RE: [user-assistance-discuss] Clarifying Our Goals

Paul,

It would help me if I had a better understanding of the reason why you have
initiated this list. The list of possible goals is quite extensive and I
doubt we would set out to achieve them all in one process.

What do you see as "the problem" that lead you to start this list? What
would be a successful result for you? 

I can see your reference to a "plethora of ... formats" but these are
promoted by different vendors. Do your plans require participation of those
vendors so they agree to give up their formats or do you envisage developing
something and hoping that it may be adopted over time?
If the plethora of help formats is the problem, why is that a problem?
Presumably, if we start from a suitably designed model, we can generate any
of them plus any others that come along.

Peter Meyer

Elkera Pty Limited (ACN 092 447 428)
Email: pmeyer@elkera.com
Ph: +61 2 8440 6900 * Fax: +61 2 8440 6988
Skype: pwrmeyer
http://www.elkera.com




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Prescod [mailto:paul.prescod@xmetal.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, 2 May 2006 3:44 AM
> To: user-assistance-discuss@lists.oasis-open.org
> Subject: [user-assistance-discuss] Clarifying Our Goals
> 
> I didn't want to start this group in a dictatorial mode where 
> I imposed
> a firm vision of what we need to accomplish. There are many 
> experts out
> there with their own experience and priorities who might have 
> their own
> ideas. On the other hand, it is important that we firm up our shared
> goals before we dive into details. Let me enumerate the various
> (somewhat competing) goals that I could imagine. I've [LABELLED] them
> for future discussion.
> 
>  ====
> 
> [HELP-RUNTIME-ML] The definition of a UA runtime format that would
> replace the plethora of specific or proprietary ones like JavaHelp,
> Eclipse Help, Apple Help, Oracle Help, MS Compiled Help, MAML etc.
> 
> [HELP-INTERCHANGE-ML] The definition of a common intermediate
> (transient) format that could be compiled into all of the specific or
> proprietary UA formats.
> 
> [HELP-AUTHORING-ML] The definition of an authoring format 
> (perhaps based
> upon DocBook or DITA) that could be transformed either into the
> intermediate form described above, the runtime form described 
> above, or
> the existing proprietary formats.
> 
> [UNIFIED-HELP-ML] A format that would span the gamut from authoring to
> runtime.
> 
> [HELP-METADATA-WRAPPER] Standardization of the metadata that typically
> wraps XHTML-based help formats.
> 
> [HELP-REQUIREMENTS-DEFINITION] A set of UA delivery requirements to be
> incorporated into existing authoring and runtime formats like DocBook,
> DITA and ODF.
> 
>  ====
> 
> Despite that wide leeway I would argue that the following tasks are
> inappropriate for an OASIS TC and should be handled elsewhere:
> 
> A. Usability studies or definitions
> 
> B. Software development
> 
>  ====
> 
> I would appreciate if people could either expand on the list or offer
> their opinions (and rationale) on prioritization.
> 
>  Paul Prescod
> 
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