FYI...
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: MIT O.K.I. and IMS/GLC Collaborate to Evolve Open Service
Interface Definitions
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 16:48:19 -0400
From: IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*MIT O.K.I. and IMS/GLC Collaborate to Evolve Open Service Interface
Definitions*
*Cambridge**, MA**, Tuesday, 12 April 2005.* Today the IMS Global
Learning Consortium (IMS/GLC) and MIT’s Open Knowledge Initiative
(O.K.I.) launched a collaborative change process for the next release of
the Open Service Interface Definitions (OSIDs). This process will
result in the third major release of the OSID specifications scheduled
for later this year.
The OSIDs define application programming interface specifications for
service-oriented systems that are being adopted by a number of
commercial and open source eLearning software products. Several IMS/GLC
members, including SUN, Microsoft, Giunti Labs, University of Michigan,
MIT, and Cisco Systems, have asked whether the O.K.I's Open Service
Interface Definitions (OSIDs) can be made available as part of the
IMS/GLC suite of eLearning interoperability specifications. The
collaboration between the O. K. I. and IMS/GLC marks the transition of
the OSID maintenance and dissemination process, a necessary first step
in considering adoption of the specifications by the Consortium.
As part of this effort, O.K.I. and IMS/GLC will be distributing the
draft XML models for OSIDs (XOSID) via the IMS member and public
websites. The Java language bindings of the OSIDs will also be
distributed via the IMS website. PHP bindings also exist, and work is
progressing on C# and Objective C bindings which will be distributed
when available.
IMS/GLC has created a public forum to support the maintenance process
for the OSIDs, located at http://www.imsglobal.org
<http://www.imsglobalproject.org/> (look in the Quick Links section for
“Specification Problem and Suggestion Reporting”). A document
describing the process can be found on the IMS/GLC site and also at the
O.K.I. project site, http://www.okiproject.org
<http://www.okiproject.org/> For more information please contact
[log in to unmask]
*About the IMS Global Learning Consortium:*
The IMS Global Learning Consortium promotes the development and delivery
of interoperable learning technology. IMS/GLC specifications and related
publications are made available to the public at no charge from
www.imsglobal.org. To join IMS/GLC and participate in the development of
e-Learning specifications and support their implementation and use
world-wide, visit http://www.imsglobal.org/membership.html.
*About the Open Knowledge Initiative:*
The Open Knowledge Initiative (O.K.I.), a program at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, develops specifications that describe how the
components of an educational software environment communicate with each
other and with other enterprise systems. O.K.I. specifications address
broad interoperability agreements that allow for adaptation and further
specification by communities of practice. In this way, O.K.I. seeks to
open new markets for educational tools and content.
The O.K.I. team at MIT continues to provide architectural and technical
leadership for software initiatives in higher education, among industry
affiliates, and through national and international organizations such as
the IMS Global Learning Consortium. This work helps ensure that the next
generation of e-learning software will integrate seamlessly with the
educational enterprise, and it establishes O.K.I. as a global leader in
behavioral specifications for educational technology interoperability.
http://www.okiproject.org <http://www.okiproject.org/> .
--
Phil Barker Learning Technology Adviser
ICBL, School of Mathematics and Computer Science
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS
Tel: work - 0131 451 3278 home - 0131 221 1352
Web: http://www.icbl.hw.ac.uk/~philb/
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