Sorry for the diversion, but I can't resist making this observation.
Dan, most API's don't allow you to take possession of the content. (While theoretically they could, in practice, they don't.) That means the content itself can't be replicated in another location without the original system. That being the case, how would an API have solved the problem of long-term sustainability of this content? Support for the API would have disappeared along with the support for the project.
Am I missing something?
Günter
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dan Zambonini
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 7:32 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 'Every Object Tells a Story'
Hi all,
To me, these feel like perfect examples to illustrate the 'central
repository' vs 'open APIs' debate.
Had these projects exposed full, rich, obvious APIs (perhaps they did, in
which case this argument is invalid!), then the valuable content may - and
probably would - now be in multiple other locations, sustained forever more
(of course this would also rely on the content having the relevant
licensing: Creative Commons, etc).
Thanks,
Dan
PS Apologies if this argument was part of what Nick was making below; his
post was far beyond my intellectual capability.
----------------------------------------
Dan Zambonini
Box UK
Internet Development and Consultancy
t: +44 (0)29 2022 8822
f: +44 (0)29 2022 8820
e: [log in to unmask]
w: http://www.boxuk.com
----------------------------------------
On 08/05/2009 15:09, "Nick Poole" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Janet,
>
> The answer is, I'm afraid that there are too many projects, and possibly not
> enough critical judgement in the funding process. Most of these projects have
> been funded on a largely exploratory basis, and too little thought and
> investment has gone into the organisational and strategic context in which
> they will sit.
>
> The result, in my experience, is good work which lacks the surrounding
> infrastructure to make the transition from project to service. These
> developments are still regarded as incidental to the core mission of most of
> their organisations, many of whom will only have got involved in the project
> in the first place in the hope that it will release some useful funds and
> generate some political credibility.
>
> This is a critical and central problem of trying to engineer lasting
> development using project funding. The funder's ambition is to deliver work
> which contributes towards a central strategic objective. The organisation's
> ambition is to secure money to do work which contributes to their own
> objectives, based on their knowledge of their audiences and collections.
> Whether the two sets of priorities coincide is a very hit and miss affair and
> 'smart' funders like the JISC Digitisation programme, which aim to provide
> investment to support organisations in achieving both sets of outcomes, are
> relatively few and far between.
>
> Could 'Every Object Tells a Story...' have evolved to be the basis of a
> national collaborative online museum? Possibly. But for it to have done so
> would have required a sustained strategic commitment and investment. Making
> this ongoing commitment would have required 5 other projects elsewhere to be
> turned down (all of which, incidentally, might also deliver something
> amazing).
>
> I very much hope that in the next few years we will move towards a tiered
> funding structure which aims both to seed-fund innovative exploratory work and
> to incubate the best products and services via sustained investment.
>
> All best,
>
> Nick
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