- From: Charles McCathieNevile <charles@w3.org>
- Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 07:55:39 -0500 (EST)
- To: Kynn Bartlett <kynn-edapta@idyllmtn.com>
- cc: Phill Jenkins <pjenkins@us.ibm.com>, <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Anyone can call anything a standard. It isn't some magic reserved name, it is actually a word that describes the thing which people all use (so in fact many so-called standards are not) or agree to use as the measure or interface they provide for outside evaluation or use. Beyond which, I don't personally think that it matters a great deal what they are called - if someone advances a sufficiently compelling case for one name or another I am ready to be convinced. cheers chaals On Tue, 5 Mar 2002, Kynn Bartlett wrote: At 6:16 PM -0600 3/5/02, Phill Jenkins wrote: >Should W3C rename the WAI guidelines as standards? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that since W3C isn't an official standards-making body, nothing can be legitimately called a "standard"; it's a reserved word. However, "specification" should be available for use. I agree that the term "guideline" is problematic, because it carries an implication of "suggestion" which is not really what we are trying to accomplish nor is it in line with the way the "guidelines" are written. (If we are truly writing "guidelines" then WCAG 2.0 would look more like advice and less like requirements!) Anyway, I suspect this won't change, even if it really should. --Kynn -- Charles McCathieNevile http://www.w3.org/People/Charles phone: +61 409 134 136 W3C Web Accessibility Initiative http://www.w3.org/WAI fax: +1 617 258 5999 Location: 21 Mitchell street FOOTSCRAY Vic 3011, Australia (or W3C INRIA, Route des Lucioles, BP 93, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France)
Received on Wednesday, 6 March 2002 07:55:42 UTC