On Tue, 28 Jan 1997, Tony Gill wrote:
> Preben Hansen wrote:
>
> > I agree with Stuart and Rebecca,
> > At this stage it is important to make a general and simple level of
> > resource description record. It should also be easy to understand and use!
> > This general version could then be altered, developed and adapted for
> > different user communities and environments. Different communities will
> > have different needs for description, and a future software should allow
> > those different needs, through future additions and extensions.
>
> Uh oh, widespread misunderstanding! The point behind the
> Qualifiers/Object Types is that, like the elements themselves, they are
> *optional*, for use only by those who need the additional level of
> accuracy and 'specific-ness' they provide. They *are* an attempt at an
> adaptation for a different user community, namely those engaged in
> enabling resource discovery for others -- people like us (or me at
> least).
>
> Without the optional ability to qualify the elements according to some
> vaguely standardised scheme, the element set cannot be sensibly mapped
> to existing descriptive schemes, and is too simplistic for any serious
> application...
I did not suggest that we get rid of qualifiers altogether; I agree we
need the ability to qualify elements optionally. It is the level of
qualification suggested that I question. I would favor something more in
line with what was discussed concerning qualifiers at the original Dublin
Core Workshop in March 1995, which suggested using them but to a limited
extent (and with a controlled list that wasn't completely nailed down).
Rebecca
> ...And unless some useful implementations start appearing soon, DC will
> be overtaken by ad hoc or proprietary metadata encoding methods such as
> MCF or Alta Vista's.
>
> As for the lack of discussion on these proposals, this is certainly not
> for want of trying on Jon's part!
>
> T.
> --
> == Tony Gill ======================= Programme Leader: ADAM & VADS ==
> Surrey Institute of Art & Design * Farnham * Surrey * GU9 7DS * UK
> Tel: +44 (0)1252 722441 x2427 * Fax: +44 (0)1252 712925
> === [log in to unmask] = http://adam.ac.uk/ = http://vads.ahds.ac.uk/ ==
>
|