[sc34wg3] to advance Topic Maps

Sam Hunting sc34wg3@isotopicmaps.org
Tue, 15 Apr 2003 10:58:40 -0400 (EDT)


> I do what I do because I believe in the same principles as Yuri
> Rubinsky:
> 
>    1. Do good.

Cf. the following from ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, Rules for the structure
and drafting of International Standards, especially the note:

    3  Terms and definitions

    For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions
    apply.

    3.1
    standard

    document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body,
    that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or
    characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the
    achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context

    NOTE
    Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science,
    technology and experience, and aimed at the promotion of optimum
    community benefits.

BTW -- and touching the "third rail" of SC34 for hopefully the last time
-- I personally don't see vendor motivation as being "base" (see
Mandeville, "Fable of the Bees"). It's a question of how motivations are
harnessed. If vendor motivation leads to detailed and substantive
contributions to the text, in accordance with the goals and processes that
are the strength of the ISO brand (see above), then let's have more of
it, say I.


Sam Hunting
eTopicality, Inc.

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Co-editor:  ISO Reference Model for Topic Maps 
  Topic map consulting and training: www.etopicality.com
Free open source topic map tools:  www.gooseworks.org
  XML Topic Maps: Creating and Using Topic Maps for the Web.
Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-74960-2.
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