[xml-dev] OASIS TC Call For Participation: Topic Maps PublishedSubjects

["Karl F. Best" <karl.best@oasis-open.org>]

A new OASIS technical committee is being formed. The OASIS Topic Maps
Published Subjects Technical Committee has been proposed by the
following members of OASIS: Bernard Vatant, Mondeca; Murray Altheim, Sun
Microsystems; H. Holger Rath, empolis GmbH; and the Individual OASIS
member Steve Pepper.

The proposal for a new TC meets the requirements of the OASIS TC Process
(see http://oasis-open.org/committees/process.shtml), and is appended to
this message. The proposal, which includes a statement of purpose, list
of deliverables, and proposed schedule, will constitute the TC's
charter. The TC Process allows these items to be clarified (revised) by
the TC members; such clarifications (revisions), as well as submissions
of technology for consideration by the TC and the beginning of technical
discussions, may occur no sooner than the TC's first meeting.

To become a member of this new TC you must 1) be an employee of an OASIS
member organization or an Individual member of OASIS; 2) notify the TC
chair, Bernard Vatant (bernard.vatant@mondeca.com), of your intent to
participate at least 15 days prior to the first meeting; and 3)
participate in the first meeting on 30 October, 2001. You should also
subscribe to the TC's discussion list. Note that membership in OASIS TCs
is by individual, and not by organization. You must be eligible for
participation at the time you time you notify the chair.

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=================================================================
Karl F. Best
OASIS - Director, Technical Operations
978.667.5115 x206
karl.best@oasis-open.org  http://www.oasis-open.org
==================================================================

Name of the TC:
The name of the technical committee is: OASIS Topic Maps Published
Subjects Technical Committee

Statement of purpose:
This Technical Committee is set forth to promote the use of Published
Subjects [1] by specifying recommendations, requirements and best
practices, for their definition, management and application.

This includes recommendations and requirements for:

- Definition of Published Subjects
  - Format/Syntax/Notation/Grammar
  - Domain Identification
  - Support for Communication Across Natural Language Barriers
  - Defining the Mediation Between Different Community Ontologies
       or Namespaces
  - Documentation

- Management of Published Subjects
  - Registration/Repository and Online Publication Process
  - Organizational Liason (e.g., liaison with ISO 3166 maintainer,
       FAO authority, etc.)
  - Update Frequency (e.g., how often the topic maps are updated)
  - Registration Authority

- Application of Published Subjects
  - Examples Indicating Correct Usage
  - Use of Published Subjects to Mediate Between Ontologies

The TC will produce three Technical Reports, each focused upon one of
the areas above. Applications include, but are not limited to the
Semantic Web, Distributed Ontologies, Unified Classification Systems,
Business Processes, Workflow, Search and Retrieval Tools, Knowledge
Management, Diplomatic Communication, Cultural Dialogue, and various
other disciplines and functions.

Proposed list of deliverables and projected dates (subject to change):

- Published Subjects TC Requirements Document (Nov 2001)
- Recommendations, Requirements and Best Practices for the
    Definition of Published Subjects (Mar 2001)
- Recommendations, Requirements and Best Practices for the
    Management of Published Subjects (May 2002)
- Recommendations, Requirements and Best Practices for the Usage
    of Published Subjects (Aug 2002)

Language in which the TC will conduct business:
English (speakers of other languages are encouraged to participate)

Date, time and place of the first meeting (a teleconference):
  Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001; UTC 1600 (9am PST).

Proposed meeting schedule for the first year :
  Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001; UTC 1600 (9am PST).
  Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001; UTC 1600 (9am PST).
  Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001; UTC 1600 (9am PST).
  Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2001; UTC 1600 (9am PST).
  Dates for 2002 to be announced.

Names and email addresses of proposing members (minimum three) :
- Bernard Vatant, Mondeca  <bernard.vatant@mondeca.com>
- Murray Altheim, Sun Microsystems, Inc. <murray.altheim@sun.com>
- H. Holger Rath, empolis GmbH  <holger.rath@empolis.com>
- Steve Pepper, <pepper@ontopia.net>

Name of chair:
  The name of the chair is:  Bernard Vatant

Name of meeting sponsors (for both phone and face-to-face meetings):
The chair.

------------------------------------------------------
[1] The notion of Public Subject was defined in the ISO 13250 Topic Maps
standard and further refined as Published Subject in the XML Topic Maps
(XTM) 1.0 Specification.