getting work done [was Re: http://www.w3.org/2008/02/MS4D_WS/papers/unicef-w3c-presentation.html]

On Nov 6, 2008, at 6:02 AM, public-mw4d@w3.org wrote:

> I've the feeling that we are somehow in a rathole.

(jeffs puts on his flame-resistant suit)

I find myself agreeing with Steph here...
and I fear never actually making any progress
if this Interest Group gets "stuck" here

from the W3C Process Document:

[ http://www.w3.org/2003/06/Process-20030618/groups.html ]

   "Working Groups typically produce deliverables (e.g.,  
Recommendation Track
     technical reports, software, test suites, and reviews of the  
deliverables of
     other groups)

     The primary goal of an Interest Group is to bring together people  
who wish to
     evaluate potential Web technologies and policies. An Interest  
Group is a forum
     for the exchange of ideas. [...] Interest Groups do not create  
W3C Recommendations."

our group is *not* supposed to act like a "standards & practices"  
producing Working Group...
we are here to evaluate potentials and exchange ideas and get a broad  
discussion going
period

arguments over whether a particular technology is or is not
part of the browsable Web
are somewhat like arguing over
the number of angels who can dance on the head of a pin...
they are not particularly useful to our chartered ends

--

from the MW4D charter:

[ http://www.w3.org/2007/12/MW4D/charter1.1.html ]

- how are mobile platforms delivering ICT-based services?
- what are the strengths & weaknesses of the different ways
    of delivering applications on mobile phones?
- what are the different type of challenges to developing & deploying
    ICT-based services in rural & underprivileged populations?
- what are the challenges to capacity building, to stimulating
    local content & app dev, and to empowering people?

these are the 4 basic questions for this group to address first
and they do not include the definition of
what is and is-not "the browsable Web"...
common-sense everyday-person definitions will do just fine
for the purposes of this Interest Group

I would suggest we stop the semi-religious arguments
about what is and is-not a part of the browsable Web etc
and focus on a step-by-step realization of the first of our 4 goals

--

(Goal 1: Challenges to Identification)

- can we first agree on a list of ways that
   mobile is being used to deliver ICT-based services?

- can we then use that to identify
   general categories of service-delivery
   and to elucidate their
   current & future strengths & weaknesses?

- can we then use those categories
   along with current & projected uses
   to identify the challenges to dev & deployment?

- can we then use those categories & "ideal-case uses" to identify
   the challenges to capacity-building
   the challenges to local content & app dev
   and the challenges to citizen empowerment?


this will lead us to a decently organized  approach to
goal 2:  the "Roadmap Definition"
but without that simple informational base
I fear we will never get there in any coherent fashion

--

jeffs

--
Reporter:
"What do you think of Western Civilization?"
Gandhi:
"I think it would be a good idea!"
============

Prof. Jeff Sonstein

http://www.it.rit.edu/~jxs/
http://chw.rit.edu/blog/
http://www.it.rit.edu/~jxs/emailDisclaimer.html

Received on Friday, 7 November 2008 13:09:26 UTC