- From: Raph de Rooij <post@raph.nl>
- Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2021 01:03:19 +0100
- To: Jeanne Spellman <jspellman@spellmanconsulting.com>
- Cc: public-silver@w3.org
- Message-ID: <CAPsUrDUmsSzMdCy9scAOX82WDvn5SZFSDaiwSjta=+1xSYJgqQ@mail.gmail.com>
Hi all, In my thesis from February 2016, I wrote the following paragraph about the subject: *The meaning of the words conformance and compliance* Although the words conformance and compliance are often used as synonyms, they each have a distinctive meaning: *Conformance* - action in accordance with some specified standard *Compliance* - the act or process of doing what you have been asked or ordered to do In this document, the words are not interchangeable: conformance describes meeting the requirements that are defined in the WCAG 2.0 specification, whereas compliance describes meeting the requirements that are defined in a web accessibility policy. The two words match only in a scenario where a policy prescribes that websites must conform to WCAG 2.0. *source: https://30x.eu/thesis <https://30x.eu/thesis>, page 10 (bottom)* So I'm with Gregg Vanderheiden: "You comply with laws and conform to standards." My only addition: "...laws and policies..." Nowadays I work as a policy maker on web accessibility. In my opinion it is important that the distinction between the two terms is well documented to avoid confusion. Kind regards, Raph de Rooij E: post@raph.nl M: +31 6 45025236 Op vr 10 dec. 2021 om 00:50 schreef Jeanne Spellman < jspellman@spellmanconsulting.com>: > Another solution would be to define the terms for our own use, but not try > to put them in a normative glossary. > > > On 12/9/2021 6:24 PM, Susana Pallero wrote: > > Hi all, > > I agree with Peter. I think it is very important to differentiate both > terms. > > But I understand the confusion when reading the ISO standards. > > Maybe a clarification including that may work? > Adding something like "even though in several situations these terms are > used interchangeably, for the W3C standards purpose they are well > differentiated". > > On another note, I propose we change "cf conformance" for the entire word > that shows the meaning. As a person that don't speak native English I use > the browser's translator motor several times to read the W3C content and > when used the "cf" is not translated and meaning is lost. > > Sorry I couldn't add this during our meeting but it was my first and > didn't know I had to add the "Q+" on IRC chat to talk. > > Thanks so much for welcoming me today, it is a pleasure to be part of the > team. > > Regards, > > > On Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 7:01 PM Korn, Peter <pkorn@lab126.com> wrote: > >> Mary Jo, Katie, >> >> >> >> We may well be trying to hold back the tide, but I DO believe the >> distinct is very important in our work, and I think it is valuable to make >> a distinction, even if only for WCAG 3. It may be that when WCAG 3 gets >> “transposed” into other standards (e.g. EN 301 549) they will change or >> drop those glossary entries. But then again, what WCAG 2.x has done has >> driven an awful lot of other things; maybe it will here as well. >> >> >> >> Peter >> >> >> >> P.S. I also know that one gets between Gregg and his arguments at one’s >> peril! >> >> -- >> >> Peter Korn (he/him/his) | Director, Accessibility | Amazon Lab126 >> >> pkorn@amazon.com >> >> >> >> *From: *Katie Haritos-Shea <ryladog@gmail.com> >> *Date: *Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 1:59 PM >> *To: *Mary Jo Mueller <maryjom@us.ibm.com> >> *Cc: *Silver Community Group <public-silver@w3.org> >> *Subject: *RE: [EXTERNAL] [Conformance] Definition of Compliance vs. >> conformance >> *Resent-From: *<public-silver@w3.org> >> *Resent-Date: *Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 1:57 PM >> >> >> >> *CAUTION*: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do >> not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender and >> know the content is safe. >> >> >> >> I hear Gregg Vanderheiden in my ear saying "You comply with laws and >> conform to standards" from years ago. Not sure he trumps standards >> bodies.... >> >> >> >> On Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 4:45 PM Mary Jo Mueller <maryjom@us.ibm.com> wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> >> After the meeting I was addressing some input from a colleague on >> definitions and what is already defined and available in ISO and IEC >> standards. Since standards harmonization is a definite concern, it seems >> there's a variety of usage and definition of "Compliance", "Comply", >> "Conformance", Conform" and in ISO and IEC standards there are multiple >> instances where the definition of one of these terms includes the other >> term. So I'm not sure how successful we will be trying to tease apart terms >> that have been clearly used interchangeably for a while. >> >> Here's a link to the ISO standards page where you can perform a search on >> terms to see how they are defined and in what standards they are defined.. >> >> · *ISO* Online Browsing Platform (OBP) https://www.iso.org/obp/uiand >> select the *Terms & Definitions* radio button >> >> · *IEC* maintains its own platform, similar to ISO >> https://www.electropedia.org/and check the *Search also in definitions* >> checkbox. For example: >> >> >> For example from an IEC Internet of Things standard: >> >> >> * compliance* >> >> >> >> >> characteristic >> <https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=741-01-06> of >> conformance to rules, such as those defined by a law, a regulation >> <https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=901-02-10>, >> a standard >> <https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=901-02-02>, >> or a policy >> >> >> >> So maybe we should just concede that these are used interchangeably and >> use this definition. >> >> Best regards, >> >> Mary Jo >> _____________________________________________ >> *Mary Jo Mueller* >> Accessibility Standards Program Manager >> IBM Accessibility >> >> >> >> "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and >> become more, you are a leader." *~John Quincy Adams* >> >>
Received on Friday, 10 December 2021 09:08:58 UTC