Re: Range of Web architecture? (was Re: Early draft of Architecture Document for your review

On Thu, 2002-07-11 at 08:02, Mark Baker wrote:
[...]
> I'd really like to see something in the architecture document that talks
> about the "range of Web architecture"; what sorts of tasks can be
> coordinated between Web agents, be they human or machine?  For example,
> is Web architecture sufficient(*) to permit two parties to coordinate
> the purchase of a some shoes, without human intervention?  What about
> three or more parties?  etc..
> 
> If this is something folks would like to see, I'd be happy to write up
> some strawman text.

I'm not sure how I feel about having something like this in the arch
doc, but I know I wrote something like it before. In case you
also find it relevant:

[[
Abstract

The architecture and implementation of the World Wide Web are evaluated
with respect to Douglas Engelbart's requirements for an open
hyperdocument system. Engelbart's requirements are derived from
experience in using computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW) to
support large scale electronic commerce. 

[...]

Conclusions

Support for Engelbart's requirements is far from ubiquitous. But the
architecture in no way prevents them from being realized, and the
quantity of resources integrated into the system provides ample
motivation for research and development.

In each area where facilities to meet the requirement are not
ubiquitous, a demonstration of sufficient facilities has taken place.

This gives confidence that the requirements will eventually be met and
become infrastructure.

If in fact Engelbart's requirements are an effective way to measure the
viability of a platform for electronic commerce, the Web is very likely
to be a viable platform for some time to come.
]]

-- An Evaluation of the World Wide Web with respect to Engelbart's
Requirements
Daniel W. Connolly
W3CMIT LCS
$Date: 2001/01/12 00:09:30 $
http://www.w3.org/Architecture/NOTE-ioh-arch


-- 
Dan Connolly, W3C http://www.w3.org/People/Connolly/

Received on Thursday, 11 July 2002 10:10:13 UTC