Re: [kDev] Re: Metacrap -- and now read this...

[Daniel Harris <daniel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Constantine and All,

On Sunday, February 9, 2003, at 01:15  am, Constantine Makarov wrote:
> The question should be: what types (categories) of information Kendra 
> wants to invite people to publish and how other people can easily read 
> / view / listen to it without having to go through an intensive 
> training program (cause they won't).

First, I need to draw a line between what we want out of kendraTools 
and what we want out of kendraSystem. So, I'll give answers for both 
separately mostly taken from:

http://www.kendra.org.uk/documents/kendra_tools_project_plan_1.html

kendraTools - as we have on the current Kendra website: information on 
People, Companies, Events, Meetings, Forums and News. With the addition 
of Accounts and Funding Opportunities.

kendraSystem - as we have on the current Kendra website: information on 
the Network: Servers and Media. With the addition of Commerce, 
Interface, Rules, Catalogue.

> How much data and what types of data will be published, in what 
> formats?

kendraTools - as much data as there are people and as much as they want 
to talk. Mostly in textual format and maybe some graphics.

kendraSystem - statistics on the current status of the Network. Test 
media such as as music and videos. So, a wide range of formats: text, 
graphics, audio and video.

> Is it to be contained in Kendra's own server /dta repository or is it 
> going to be on content owner's own storage, yo just provide the link?

kendraTools and kendraSystem - initially have data stored on Kendra 
server BUT very quickly need to get these to be distributed systems.

> Yes people will write in text format (do you expect them to write in 
> XML?) And yes other people will read text format and they are not 
> interested what is behind it. AND THEY WANNA READ IN THEIR OWN 
> LANGUAGE.  The latest report to the EU (unreleased to public yet) has 
> shown:  today above 70% + of all the content on the WEB is in 
> languages other than English.

Agreed.

> Quick note:  the fact that some software claims to be unicode 
> compliant does not necessarily mean that some WEB user will be able to 
> post his content in his language and some other user will be able to 
> view / read it in his (different ) language.

Agreed.

> And yes there is at least one solution for this.

Err, yes?

> Just to check basic assumptions: you mention "system" - since 
> everything is public then whatever structure you would like to use it 
> has to be open source. It has to be easy for other information banks 
> to link up and communicate, most likely using WEB services technology. 
> That points strongly to something XML-based.

Yes, it does.

> Actually, there is a more or less standard process you have to go 
> through, in terms of asking the right questions.   I suggest to set up 
> a little conference call where we can brainstorm. Perhaps I could ask 
> a professional data publishing systems consultant (my colleague) join 
> the call. This is also in line with some pragmatic suggestions 
> regarding the project plan.
> In order to plan the project you have to define the goal 
> (deliverables) of the project first. Define stages of development of 
> Kendra environment, etc.

So, the project plan as it stands doesn't do this very well or not at 
all? I really do invite you to be critical.

> who would like to participate?

No one replied so I guess it's just me and thee and your colleague...

> Daniel, perhaps you could have a suggestion when and how? (number to 
> call, there is lots of them conference call or audiobridge facility 
> providers).

... which makes it a lot easier and less expensive. Let's just call 
each other and report back to the list. I'm around during the day. 
Let's exchange numbers off list.

Cheers Daniel