A comment on the proposed editorial changes to the DCMI Type Vocabulary.
The proposed definition for 'Service' is:
A system that provides one or more functions of value to the end user.
To me the term 'end user' implies a person. But within a service oriented architecture the user of a service may be another service, ie a machine. In fact one of the examples is a Z39.50 server which is not usually used directly by a person. Of course people do hopefully get ultimate benefit from a such service but such indirect use seems to me beyond the basic definition of a service.
I suggest that the words 'to the end user' be dropped.
Also I'm not sure that a definition should attempt value judgements as to whether a function is 'of value'. It should simply say that a service provides functions. So I'd suggest dropping 'of value' as well.
Ann
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Ann Apps. IT Specialist (Research & Development), MIMAS,
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 161 275 6039 Fax: +44 (0) 161 275 6040
Email: [log in to unmask] WWW: http://epub.mimas.ac.uk/ann.html
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