Re: Identity and a thing

I believe your concern is addressed by the latest working draft which 
avoids constructions like "has an identity."
--R

On 7/25/2011 8:28 AM, runnegar@isoc.org wrote:
>
> Hi all.
>
> Unfortunately, due to technical issues, this email (originally dated 
> 20 June 2011) was not posted to the list. It may have been superseded, 
> but, in any case, here it is (with "Bob" changed to "Bill").
>
> ========================================
>
> Dear colleagues,
>
> I may be coming late to this discussion.
>
> Further to our teleconference on 16 June 2011, Luc asked me to post an 
> email explaining my concerns regarding the use of the word "identity" 
> in the definition of "thing" for the concept - Invariant View or 
> Perspective of Thing
>
> http://www.w3.org/2011/prov/wiki/ConceptInvariantViewOnThing#Definition_by_Jim_and_Luc_v2_.28in_progress.29
>
> I was concerned that people outside the Provenance community may find 
> the use of the word "identity" in the definition of "thing" confusing.
>
> The word "identity" is frequently used as shorthand for identity of an 
> individual.
>
> In this context, a common definition of identity is "the complete set 
> of characteristics that define an individual". Some people use the 
> word "attributes" in place of "characteristics". A related term is 
> "identifier", which is sometimes termed "partial identity". Two 
> examples of an identifier are: an email address; and an account number.
>
> In any case, perhaps what are trying to say is a thing is "identified 
> as" rather than a thing "has these identifiers".
>
> Let me illustrate this with some examples:
>
> On Monday, Alice's residential address is 100 Street Avenue. On 
> Wednesday, Alice's residential address changes to 200 Street Avenue. 
> Alice has the same identity, but different identifiers on Monday and 
> on Wednesday. She can be identified on Monday as Alice who lives at 
> 100 Street Avenue, and on Wednesday as Alice who lives at 200 Street 
> Avenue. Further, as it relates to Provenance, you may consider that on 
> Wednesday Alice can also be identified as "having lived at 100 Street 
> Avenue on Tuesday". None of this, of course, changes her identity, 
> only how she is identified.
>
> On Monday, Company XYZ Pty Ltd is registered as company number 001100. 
> On Wednesday, company XYZ changes its name to ABC Pty Ltd. The company 
> is the same entity on Monday and Wednesday (i.e. company 001100), but 
> its name (one of its identifiers) has changed.
>
> Alice posts a photo on her website at alice@alice.com.
> alice@alice.com is hosted by Bill using dynamic IP addresses assigned 
> by his ISP from time to time.
> The photo can be identified as the photo posted on alice@alice.com.
> The IP address where that photo can be accessed (one of its 
> identifiers) may change from time to time.
>
> Best regards,
> Christine
>
>