The Standards Dilemma Strategic Content Alliance – Home Forum Edinburgh, May 2008 Alastair Dunning JISC Digitisation Programme Manager [email_address] 0203 006 6065

Alastair Dunning

JISC Digitisation Programme Manager

[email_address]

0203 006 6065

Standards everywhere Digital content (file formats, metadata) but also software languages, Internet protocols, operating systems It used to be so simple … create images as Tiffs, text as XML, make sure databases are SQL compliant It still is that simple - Open standards should be at the heart of policy But it’s no longer feasible to dictate standards

Digital content (file formats, metadata) but also software languages, Internet protocols, operating systems

It used to be so simple … create images as Tiffs, text as XML, make sure databases are SQL compliant

It still is that simple - Open standards should be at the heart of policy

But it’s no longer feasible to dictate standards

What have we learnt? (I) Standards have a context and cannot solely be dictated from top down Skills are required to implement and exploit them 95% of acronyms are intimidating Take time and money to learn standards and related tools METS (Metadata Transmission and Encoding Scheme) may be great, but it takes time to learn its ins and outs Even ‘basic’ standards can be exploited in novel ways - but sometimes they are too limiting

Standards have a context and cannot solely be dictated from top down

Skills are required to implement and exploit them

95% of acronyms are intimidating

Take time and money to learn standards and related tools

METS (Metadata Transmission and Encoding Scheme) may be great, but it takes time to learn its ins and outs

Even ‘basic’ standards can be exploited in novel ways - but sometimes they are too limiting

What have we learnt? (II) Standards have a context and cannot solely be dictated from top do wn Different users require different standards TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) is great for scholars … but for everyone else? On the other hand, simple TXT files may lack precision Cost of standards fluctuate wildly MJPEG2000 creates huge file sizes for moving images But other formats are poorer quality Open standards not necessarily the most suitable WAV, MP3 preferred to OGG by users for sound files

Standards have a context and cannot solely be dictated from top do wn

Different users require different standards

TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) is great for scholars … but for everyone else?

On the other hand, simple TXT files may lack precision

Cost of standards fluctuate wildly

MJPEG2000 creates huge file sizes for moving images

But other formats are poorer quality

Open standards not necessarily the most suitable

WAV, MP3 preferred to OGG by users for sound files

What have we learnt? (III) Metadata and the creation of digital silos Different metadata standards; more importantly different interpretations of metadata E.g. basic Dublin Core vs granular VRA4 (Visual Resources Association) Crosswalks and translation services exist, but are we fighting a losing battle Different thesauri within the same communities? Developing communities of practice which allow for early agreement and negotiation

Metadata and the creation of digital silos

Different metadata standards; more importantly different interpretations of metadata

E.g. basic Dublin Core vs granular VRA4 (Visual Resources Association)

Crosswalks and translation services exist, but are we fighting a losing battle

Different thesauri within the same communities?

Developing communities of practice which allow for early agreement and negotiation

What have we learnt? (IV) Standards may be fixed; but they inhabit an organic environment Any standards policy that is implemented interacts with other issues throughout an institution E.g. Staff skills and training, costs, times, available software and tools, relationship to hardware and operating systems, required end uses.

Standards may be fixed; but they inhabit an organic environment

Any standards policy that is implemented interacts with other issues throughout an institution

E.g. Staff skills and training, costs, times, available software and tools, relationship to hardware and operating systems, required end uses.

Standards must be agile Not necessarily different external users; same users in slightly different ways Media and syndication of content Create once; re-use many times Migration is not just about digital preservation; XML to PDF, TXT, XLS, MDB, RSS, HTML At least use tools which can get you to XML Letting others use your data in unexpected ways - mash-ups, visualisation

Not necessarily different external users; same users in slightly different ways

Media and syndication of content

Create once; re-use many times

Migration is not just about digital preservation;

XML to PDF, TXT, XLS, MDB, RSS, HTML

At least use tools which can get you to XML

Letting others use your data in unexpected ways - mash-ups, visualisation

What is JISC doing? Conversations with experts to provide guidance UKOLN - wide-reaching concern for standards and metadata http://www.ukoln.ac.uk Netskills workshops http://www.netskills.ac.uk / Cetis - Standards for educational technologies http://jisc.cetis.ac.uk/ TASI (Technical Advisory Service for Images) Soon to expand remit for sound and moving images - http://www.tasi.ac.uk

Conversations with experts to provide guidance

UKOLN - wide-reaching concern for standards and metadata

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk

Netskills workshops

http://www.netskills.ac.uk /

Cetis - Standards for educational technologies

http://jisc.cetis.ac.uk/

TASI (Technical Advisory Service for Images)

Soon to expand remit for sound and moving images - http://www.tasi.ac.uk

What is JISC doing? JISC Standards Catalogue http://standards.jisc.ac.uk / Experts from JISC services (and beyond) provide information New editions created over time Provides entries on key standards, including risk assessment and take-up elsewhere, plus links to further documentation

JISC Standards Catalogue

http://standards.jisc.ac.uk /

Experts from JISC services (and beyond) provide information

New editions created over time

Provides entries on key standards, including risk assessment and take-up elsewhere, plus links to further documentation

What is the SCA’s involvement? Planning for next iteration of standards catalogue A catalogue tailored for different audiences Providing informed advice on cost, skills required and suitability for respective audiences Advocacy campaign to promote use Better understanding of audience requirements Hence events like today’s

Planning for next iteration of standards catalogue

A catalogue tailored for different audiences

Providing informed advice on cost, skills required and suitability for respective audiences

Advocacy campaign to promote use

Better understanding of audience requirements

Hence events like today’s