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

Doug --



I don't want to get too hung up on the first sentence of an abstract.



However, comparing;



·         Mine: “An Annotation asserts information about a resource”

·         Yours: "An annotation is a piece of information attached to a document or other resource"



I like yours as much as mine, maybe better …. except for the fact that it isn’t accurate.



If X is “about”  Y, X is not the annotation.  The annotation is a (third) resource which asserts that X is about Y.  How to capture that in the first sentence of an abstract without blowing the  mind of a someone reading the abstract just trying to decide whether annotations are of interest, is admittedly difficult.   But I think, while the two are probably equally helpful, mine is more accurate.



Ray



> -----Original Message-----

> From: Doug Schepers [mailto:schepers@w3.org]

> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 9:23 PM

> To: Denenberg, Ray; 'W3C Public Annotation List'

> Subject: 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<mailto:schepers@w3.org%3cmailto: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

> >