Re: [data-model] Proposed Abstract for Web Annotation Data Model Spec

Hi, Ray–

On 11/12/14 3:20 PM, Denenberg, Ray wrote:
> I’ve never cared much about abstracts but as long as this is open for
> discussion ….
>
> “Annotation is the act of creating associations between distinct
> pieces of information”
>
> I have always thought that as a definition, this is way too general.
> I think this is better:
>
> “An Annotation asserts information about a resource”

I'm okay with another definition (I didn't write that one, just reused 
it), but your suggestion is a bit... jargony. :) I like for abstracts to 
be understandable by a layperson.

Here are a few definitions from the Web:

"a note added to a text, book, drawing, etc., as a comment or 
explanation" [merriam-webster.com]

"An annotation is metadata (e.g. a comment, explanation, presentational 
markup) attached to text, image, or other data. Often annotations refer 
to a specific part of the original data." [Wikipedia]

"a critical or explanatory note or body of notes added to a text." 
[dictionary.com]

"a critical or explanatory note added to a text." [thefreedictionary.com]

"A marking placed on imagery or drawings for explanatory purposes or to 
indicate items or areas of special importance." [Dictionary of Military 
and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.] (I just liked how 
verbose and oddly specific this one was.)


> I would then change the beginning of the second sentence, currently:
>
> The Web Annotation Data Model specifies an interoperable framework
> for creating associations between related resources, annotations,
> ….
>
> To:
>
> The Web Annotation Data Model specifies an interoperable framework
> for creating annotations,  ….
>
> Thus the abstract would begin: “An Annotation asserts information
> about a resource. The Web Annotation Data Model specifies an
> interoperable framework for creating annotations,  ….


How about this?

[[
An annotation is a piece of information attached to a document or other 
resource. The Web Annotation Data Model specifies an interoperable 
framework for creating and sharing annotations.

Web Annotations can be exchanged between client and server, between 
different annotation services, between different applications, between 
users of ebooks, phones, tablets, or desktop computers, or any other 
reading and commenting system.

The goal of this specification is to provide a data model simple enough 
for the most common use cases, such as attaching a comment or tag to a 
single web page or image, to more complex requirements like attaching 
arbitrary content to data or to timed multimedia resources.
]]


Regards-
-Doug

> From: Robert Sanderson [mailto:azaroth42@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday,
> November 12, 2014 2:54 PM To: Doug Schepers Cc: W3C Public Annotation
> List Subject: Re: [data-model] Proposed Abstract for Web Annotation
> Data Model Spec
>
>
> Thanks Doug!
>
> R
>
> On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 11:01 AM, Doug Schepers
> <schepers@w3.org<mailto:schepers@w3.org>> wrote: Hi, Rob, Paolo–
>
> Here is my proposed abstract for the Web Annotation Data Model spec
> [1]. I tried to reuse parts of the Introduction and Aims of the Model
> sections, with a little expansion to provide more context for those
> who might wonder what this is at all.
>
> [[ Annotation is the act of creating associations between distinct
> pieces of information. The Web Annotation Data Model is to provide a
> standard structured description mechanism for sharing Annotations
> between systems. Web Annotations can be exchanged between client and
> server, between different annotation services, between different
> applications, between users of ebooks, phones, tablets, or desktop
> computers, or any other reading and commenting system.
>
> The goal of this specification is to provide a data model simple
> enough for the most common use cases, such as attaching a comment or
> tag to a single web page or image, to more complex requirements like
> attaching arbitrary content to data or to timed multimedia
> resources. ]]
>
>
> If you adopt this, or some variation of it, you might consider
> working the displaced substance of the current abstract into the
> Introduction and Aims of the Model sections.
>
> [1] http://w3c.github.io/web-annotation/model_fpwd/
>
> Regards- -Doug
>
>
>
> -- Rob Sanderson Technology Collaboration Facilitator Digital Library
> Systems and Services Stanford, CA 94305
>

Received on Thursday, 13 November 2014 02:23:21 UTC