RE: Lack of RDF/XML examples in new standards

I agree with Stephen regarding the removal of RDF/XML examples and replacing them with tuple notation.  I teach a metadata course to graduate students in library and information science who are grappling with learning RDF (and some even XML) at the same time they are exploring web implications for knowledge organization systems including SKOS.  The RDF/XML examples in the documentation are extremely useful in reinforcing their understandings.  While I recognize that this is probably far from a compelling reason for keeping the RDF/XML examples in the body of the documentation, how about providing them in an appendix?

Stuart

Stuart Sutton, Associate Professor
The Information School
Suite 370, Room 330L
Mary Gates Hall, Box 352840
University of Washington
Seattle, WA USA 98195-2840
+1 206-685-6618 (v)
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-----Original Message-----
From: public-esw-thes-request@w3.org [mailto:public-esw-thes-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Bounds
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 5:58 PM
To: SKOS
Subject: Lack of RDF/XML examples in new standards


Hi all,

I was just reading through the SKOS Primer and saw that "this Primer,  
together with the SKOS Reference document [SKOS-REFERENCE], replaces  
the earlier SKOS Core Guide [SWBP-SKOS-CORE-GUIDE] and the SKOS Core  
Vocabulary Specification [SWBP-SKOS-CORE-SPEC], which are now  
deprecated".

I think this is a mistake.  One of the best things about the Core  
Guide and Vocabulary Spec was that they have an extensive set of  
RDF/XML examples which, let's face it, form the vast bulk of  
implemented RDF systems.

Replacing RDF/XML notation with tuple notation in the Primer and  
References places a great big roadblock to understanding for those who  
are looking for an easy XML language to describe and interrelate  
concepts.

Sure, the superceded documents are still available but people won't  
know to go to older versions to find these examples.

In all probability, I wouldn't have taken the time to understand how  
SKOS worked without having RDF/XML examples available to read and  
understand.  I can see many others making the same decision, and I  
think it has the potential to seriously impact on SKOS uptake.

Just my 2c,

-- Stephen.

Received on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 14:34:34 UTC