Well, I guess I am guilty of having missed the subtle point about matching
two sets of metadata - though I think this needs to be brought out in the
comment rather than in the definition.
And, in the general case, this is still also true of other metadata
properties - it is not the defining feature of accessibility - so I'm not
convinced that it should be highlighted in this one element. For example,
my user-profile may state that I prefer PNGs to GIFs and that I work in
the area of digital libraries, and these preferences may be used by some
services to filter my search results before I get to see them - which is a
different example of matching two sets of metadata.
We need to find a way of involving Liddy in this debate, I think?
Two critical questions, IMHO.
Is dcterms:accessibility intended to be applied to all resources (physical
and digital) or just digital? I think it has to be the former, and that
the definition must work in the context of the accessibility of, for
example, a building. If it is the latter, then we need to rename the
property as something else (e.g. dcterms:webAccessibility).
Isn't accessibility fundamentally about "ease of access for all"?
Re-casting this slightly into DCMI-speak, what is wrong with a definition
along the lines of
A statement about the ease with which the resource can be accessed by
all agents, regardless of the technology being used.
? (Note: I hate the 'agent' word, but I think we've now lumbered
ourselves with it). This works in the context of someone accessing a Web
page using a screen reader, and someone entering a building using a
wheelchair. Thoughts?
Andy.
On Mon, 14 Feb 2005, Stuart Sutton wrote:
> All, I am forwarding an email from Liddy regarding 'accessibility'. She
> has looked at the discussion here in our archives.
>
> Stuart
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Stuart A. Sutton, Associate Professor
> [University of Washington, Box 354985]
> The Information School
> iSchool Research Commons
> University of Washington
> 4311 11th Ave NE, Suite 400
> Seattle, WA 98105
> http://www.ischool.washington.edu
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Liddy Nevile [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 5:12 PM
> > To: Stuart Sutton
> > Subject: Re: dc accessibility
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > I have read the debate and am very worried. I acknowledge
> > Andy's point but it misses the main thing - that this is
> > about matching two sets of metadata - not just matching
> > resources to users in the vague, 'hopeful'
> > way it has been done before. That is a critical message and
> > we should craft a definition that includes it! So while I
> > buy Andy's idea that everyone should understand the message,
> > the Usage Board should be first to do that and they don't
> > seem to. What can we do to fix this?
> >
> > Liddy
> >
> >
> > On 08/02/2005, at 8:55 AM, Stuart Sutton wrote:
> >
> > > Liddy, there is nothing to do at the moment. There is
> > debate going on
> > > on the UB list regarding the definition. While you can't
> > post to the
> > > UB closed list, its archives are open for the reading.
> > Qestions have
> > > arisen as to the potential ambiguity of the definition, NOT to the
> > > basic decision itself. So instead of just wordsmithing the
> > comment,
> > > there is some likelihood that the Board will wordsmith the
> > description
> > > further.
> > > Keep an eye on the list since we have a conference call
> > shaping up for
> > > the 21st where we'd all like to wrap up accessibility and
> > some other
> > > matters. While an awkward process, I'm more than happy to
> > relay any
> > > of your thoughts to the UB list. It may mean nothing more than
> > > monitoring on your part.
> > >
> > > Stuart
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > Stuart A. Sutton, Associate Professor
> > > [University of Washington, Box 354985] The Information
> > School iSchool
> > > Research Commons University of Washington
> > > 4311 11th Ave NE, Suite 400
> > > Seattle, WA 98105
> > > http://www.ischool.washington.edu
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: Liddy Nevile [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > >> Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 3:36 PM
> > >> To: Stuart Sutton
> > >> Subject: dc accessibility
> > >>
> > >> are we making progress???
> > >>
> > >> Do you want me to do something?
> > >>
> > >> really pleased about the ed work, BTW, and will want to participate
> > >>
> > >> Liddy
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> >
> >
>
Andy
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