global metadata goals post by Steven Rowat

With respect to W3C TAG ISSUE-63, " Metadata Architecture for the Web",

I wanted to point to:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Aug/1117.html 

for some ideas on metadata requirements:


....

Goals of a W3C-mediated Global Metadata System
(ranked highest importance first*):

    1. To be created and to function in harmony with the existing W3C 
core guidelines (patent-free, royalty free, open-standard, etc.)

    2. To enable the creation of category names for data, so that 
software display, manipulation, amalgamation, transfer, sale, and 
other yet-unknown processes can be applied to the data on the basis of 
those categories, independent of what could be done if software 
attempted to examine only the data itself.
	Such category names should be:
	a) extensible, so that groups with any sort of need can create 
category names relevant to their uses of data;
	b) revisable, so that evolution in meaning of words or creation of 
subdivisions can be easily accomplished;
	c) universally accessible, so that any software with access to the 
internet can make use of them.
	d)...

    3. To ensure the functioning of certain already-identified major 
social needs for metadata, eg:
	a) labelling of data that is intrinsically wordless, ie., audio files 
and graphics;
	b) intellectual collaboration and re-manipulation of data, ie., in 
scientific research;
	c) sale of digital services and digital goods, ie., purchase of web 
services; purchase of digital works;
	d) copyright and usage permission information for all types of works, 
whether used freely or purchased;
	e)...

    4. To be as simple as possible in user interface (including both 
coding language and logical organization), ie., to be relatively easy 
to adopt by anyone capable of writing HTML, so that use of the 
metadata system does not have a significantly higher barrier to entry 
of either cost or expertise than HTML already entails.

    5.  To allow back-compatibility with previous (and current) 
metadata solutions that have been applied to problems shown in step 3; 
ie., vCard, microformats, etc....

----

*The first goal, harmony with existing W3C policies, is unlikely to 
need discussion, but I believe it is important to include it in its 
proper position, before and enabling the other levels.

++++++

Received on Friday, 21 August 2009 22:16:03 UTC