[kNews] New trials: Commerce, Catalogue, Rules, Interface...

[kNews <k-news@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear All,

An update and road map for you... Lots going on...

1. Introduction
2. Commerce Trial overview
3. Catalogue Trial overview
4. Rules Trial overview
5. Interface Trial overview
6. kendraTools and kendraBase: collaborative software development
7. License Of Responsibility: free (open source) software license
8. How you can help: spread the word


1. Introduction

As you know we are building an open platform for content distribution. We 
are soft launching our new Commerce, Catalogue, Rules and Interface trials 
over the next few months and will be targeting specific groups during this 
period to drive participation. Here is a brief idea of what to expect...
 


2. Commerce Trial overview

The Kendra Commerce Trial will seek to drive interoperability between 
different payment service providers and subscription service providers. 
We'll be calling on banks, payment providers, electronic cash providers and 
subscription providers to discuss how they can bring about interoperability 
by defining their common business practices. For examples: As a content 
consumer I want to be able to use one payment system and don't want to have 
to sign up to a new subscription just because I'm using a new application 
or visiting a new website to get my content. As a content owner/aggregator 
I want to be able to provide the most convenient way for consumers to pay 
for my content. See:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/commerce.php


3. Catalogue Trial overview

The Kendra Catalogue Trial will seek to drive interoperability between 
media catalogue owners or their representatives. We'll be calling on 
content owners and aggregators, record labels and independent artists, 
motion picture distributors and independent film makers to discuss how they 
can bring about interoperability by defining their common business 
practices. For examples: As a content consumer I want to be able to get all 
my content in one place and don't want to have to go trawling through 100s 
of websites/applications looking for that elusive track/movie. As a content 
owner/aggregator I want to be able to provide the most convenient way for 
consumers to get my content. See:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/catalogue.php


4. Rules Trial overview

The Kendra Rules Trial will seek to enable both the content owner and the 
content consumer to state the rules under which they wish to deliver and 
receive their content respectively. Well be looking into the codifying of 
business practices enabling content owners and the content consumers to 
contract only if their rules/criteria match. For examples: As a content 
consumer I want to be able to get all my content for a subscription fee of 
20 quid per month. As a content owner/aggregator I want to be able to sell 
my content on a pay-to-own basis. See:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/rules.php


5. Interface Trial overview

The Kendra Interface Trial will call upon software interface designers 
(applications and websites) and consumers to discuss requirements for 
interfacing to kendraSystem. For examples: As a content consumer I want any 
application or web portal to act as my global view of world content. See:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/interface.php


6. kendraTools and kendraBase: collaborative software development

It's fascinating watching ideas develop for kendraTools - our very own 
collaborative design tools. We're taking a very fresh approach of enabling 
users to talk (describe objects in their world) in their own language using 
their own terminology rather than having to adhere to a specific format or 
schema. To build structure we'll then enable the creation of relationships 
between these objects.
 

Nobody likes to be told how to speak or what words to use. In fact we just 
can't help making up new ones all the time. And we really like to talk 
about ourselves in our own language and terminology. It really seems like a 
"bottom up" approach. Perhaps we'll meet the "top down" applications half 
way!
 

And, yes, we're still looking to hire imaginative developers so, if you are 
one, take a look at:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/develop.php


7. License Of Responsibility: free (open source) software license

It seems right that Kendra should have it's very own software license. 
Seeing as our aim is to make kendraSystem as widely used as possible our 
aim with the software license is to reduce all hindrances to participation 
to as little as possible. Hence, our license will place no 
requirements/restrictions on the user and will explain the reasons for do 
this. For more information see:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/lists/archive/k-developers/msg00100.html


8. How you can help: spread the word

kendraSystem will only be created if we all *will* it to happen. Remember 
that Kendra's remit is to build a *working* system. Defining a 
language/protocol and applications/tools may be necessary to build this 
system but without people actually participating it will not be a *working* 
system. People and technology go hand in hand. Step by step. "Kaizen", as 
Andi says.
 

So, pass this email on to other people that you think may be interested in 
helping create this system. Or you can invite them here:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/profile.php#enroll

And, if you haven't done so already, list yourself on the website by 
filling in your details here:
 
http://www.kendra.org.uk/profile.php#contact

There is no contract with Kendra. There is no obligation other than your 
own desire. You can pull out at any time.
 

And so, we go on... ;-)

Cheers Daniel

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