xml-dev - Re: Some questions

["Eve L. Maler" <elm@east.sun.com>]

At 03:46 PM 12/1/99 -0800, Tim Bray wrote:
>Because the same data structures and usage patterns keep coming back across
>wide ranges of metadata applications, even though the world isn't about
>to agree on common vocabularies.  So there are huge gains to be had from
>a common data model and transfer syntax. -Tim

Not that I don't respect RDF's power, but personally, I think the key *is* 
common vocabularies.  We may have to start small, and they may just be hub 
formats that get mapped to/from a lot, but agreeing on semantics is the 
pill that has to be swallowed.  Even RDF depends on this, particularly on 
an open system such as the Web where you can't really control or influence 
the habits of content creators.  If you want to indicate that you are the 
author of a certain page, at the very least you have to refer to a widely 
understood "author" semantic in order for author-criterion searching to be 
of any use to your audience.  Whether it's an RDF property or a well-known 
namespace or whatever doesn't seem to matter as much.

         Eve
--
Eve Maler            Sun Microsystems
elm @ east.sun.com    +1 781 442 3190

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