[sc34wg3] a new name for the Reference Model

[Steven R. Newcomb]

In the spirit of our meetings in Baltimore, I'm hereby
proposing to rename the Reference Model (aka "RM",
"RM4TM").

It's confusing to call both the SAM and the RM
"Models", because they're very different things; the
term "Model" doesn't mean the same thing in both names.
It gives people the mistaken impression that they have
to decide whether to use the "Standard" model or the
"Reference" model -- that somehow the two things are in
competition with each other, which is not only absurd,
but also potentially self-defeating.

I believe the RM needs this change.  I think the RM
should be using the term "TM Model" instead of the term
"TM Application", wherever that term appears.  (Which
is everywhere in the RM.)

If, in Topic Maps Land, there is only a single
definition for the term "TM Model," then it will be
much easier to understand that:

      * The RM merely provides a platform or framework
        for the definitions of TM Models, and it is not
        itself in any sense a "TM Model", as we intend
        that term to be understood.

      * Users really should demand conformance to the
        Standard Model.  There is no competition
        between different Models, at least not within
        the realm of ISO Topic Maps standards.  There's
        only one ISO Standard Model: the Standard one.
        That's the one to use.

      * A TM Model (such as the Standard Model) is not
        a piece of software.  Software can *implement*
        a Model, but a Model is not software.

Personally, I'd really like to change the name of the
SAM to "the Topic Maps Standard Model", or just "the
Standard Model".  This name seems stronger, shorter,
and more appropriate than the confusingly-qualified
name, "Standard Application Model".  ("Application" is
the wrong word to be using, unless, when we say
"Standard Application Model", we're talking about
modelling a piece of software that's called the
Standard Application.  Which we're not.)

So what should be the new name of the RM?  I'm hereby
proposing "TM Modeling Principles".  We'll "test drive"
this name in the next iteration of the RM, to see if
we like it.

-- Steve

Steven R. Newcomb, Project Co-editor
ISO/IEC JTC1/SC34/WG3