Dear All,
Welcome to discussion of the 2nd edition of MIDAS. In particular can I
welcome those who have joined the list in the last few weeks. I trust you
will find FISH to be a reliable source of informed discussion and
assistance.
Development of a 2nd edition of MIDAS will benefit from wide discussion at
this early stage. We would particularly welcome postings from those new to
the list. If you have a question about MIDAS, its purpose, application to
your projects etc. it is likely that others out there would like to know the
answer too, so don't hold back!
Developing technology has, if anything, made shared standards more central
to the work of those concerned with the Historic Environment since the first
edition of MIDAS was released in 1998. The Internet, use of new data formats
such as extensible mark-up language (XML), and new media formats such as
virtual reality environments all require a shared understanding of what it
is that we should record.
Likewise, changes in our profession, such as the developing notion of
Historic Environment Records and the associated move towards shared
benchmark standards for those maintained by English local authorities, make
the requirement for standards that much clearer. Closer integration of
Historic Environment Records with those maintained by related sectors, such
as museums, archives and libraries, requires agreement on standards from all
sides. Within our own sector, how do we bridge the divide between
archaeological context records gathered on site, and those who manage
databases of thousands of excavations?
FISH has been considering the need for a second edition of MIDAS for some
months. We need to know what form you think this second edition should take:
Coverage: What aspects of Historic Environment
information requirements should it deal with?
Content: What content is required to deal with these
requirements?
Format: How should this content be presented - Does
the current format meet your needs?
Audience: Should we be broadening the audience for
MIDAS?
Delivery: What delivery mechanisms should we be using
to allow MIDAS to reach these audiences?
This is the first opportunity for that discussion to go public. Do make use
of it to make your own contribution. Thoughts discussed here will be taken
to the meeting of FISH on October 16th, and will influence the planning of
this project. This is a real opportunity to make a difference to the future
direction of a national standard that affects you.
Wishing all list members the best of luck for this e-conference - I look
forward to reading your thoughts.
Best wishes,
Dr Matthew Stiff
Data Services Unit Manager
National Monuments Record Centre
Kemble Drive
Swindon
SN2 2GZ
(t): 01793 414727
(f): 01793 414770
(m): 07939 151510
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