OASIS will have its annual Symposium April 15th-17th in San Diego, with the theme, "eBusiness and Open Standards: Understanding the Facts, Fiction, and Future". It should be noted that this is not a real symposium, where guests recline in couches, … [Continue reading] about OASIS Symposium and OpenDocument Workshop
Essential and Accidental in Standards
The earliest standards were created to support the administration of the government, which in antiquity primarily consisted of religion, justice, taxation and warfare. Crucial standards included the calendar, units of length, area, volume and … [Continue reading] about Essential and Accidental in Standards
Standards and Enablement
I'd like to synthesize some thoughts I've been having in recent weeks. But before I do that, let's have a joke:A Harvard Divinity School student reviews a proposed dissertation topic with his advisor. The professor looks over the abstract for a … [Continue reading] about Standards and Enablement
The Anatomy of Interoperability
I'd like to talk a little about about interoperability. Although I'll concentrate on document formats, the concepts here are of wider applicability. Wherever you have standards and implementations, these are some of the issues that you will want to … [Continue reading] about The Anatomy of Interoperability
Washing Machines are not Lamps
Microsoft standards attorney David Rudin has posted his thoughts on my How Standards Bring Consumers Choice, in a post titled Floor Lamps are not Software.David correctly points out that some appliances, like washing machines or electric dryers, … [Continue reading] about Washing Machines are not Lamps