RE: Methodology: was Re: Issue 3 - Trust Mechanisms in OCLC Autho rity Control Service

> Actually it is both: for the initial prototyping phase, SIMILE is
> following the latter approach i.e. is focusing on researching new
> technologies inspired by the questions and constraints of the use
> cases. I think in the initial prototype phase we are almost certain to
> investigate schema interoperation, and it would be possible to
> investigate web of trust as well. I will try to draft a prototype
> proposal, so then it will be down to the PIs to prioritise the
> prototype activities. However due to the fact we've limited each
> prototyping activity to three months, if it becomes clear during that
> time that a technology is not really ready for exploitation then we
> can probably de-emphasise that technology when we move on to the
> second integration phase, which will operate along the lines of the
> former approach.

Mark describes the process well.  The diagrams [1] and [2], in introductory sections of the Research Drivers Document and the Prototype Strawman Document, respectively, attempt to depict this.

- Mick

[1] http://web.mit.edu/simile/www/documents/researchDrivers/researchFunnel.jpg
[2] http://web.mit.edu/simile/www/documents/prototypeStrawman/focus.jpg

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Butler, Mark [mailto:Mark_Butler@hplb.hpl.hp.com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 5:17 AM
> Cc: www-rdf-dspace@w3.org
> Subject: RE: Methodology: was Re: Issue 3 - Trust Mechanisms 
> in OCLC Autho rity Control Service
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Dave 
> 
> > I think that gets to heart of my question and helps to answer
> > it. This implies
> > that the goal is primarily to find specific solutions to the 
> > dspace-related
> > problems. Thus if a use case can be adequately solved by some 
> > existing piece of
> > technology then that is good, and Simile should employ that 
> > technology and build
> > a solution from it. Hence it is appropriate that your next 
> > stage is a series of
> > short prototyping activities to de-risk the technologies, 
> > with the implication
> > that you should use the less risky solutions.
> > 
> > Makes sense.
> > 
> > [The alternative answer, which at one time I thought might be
> > part of the
> > motivation for Simile, would be to focus on researching new 
> > technology inspired
> > by the questions and constraints derived from the use cases. 
> > With that viewpoint
> > areas like "schema interoperation" or "web of trust" are 
> > interesting precisely
> > because they are high risk research topics - yet if they 
> > could be made to work
> > would have applications far outside the bounds of the initial 
> > use cases. Indeed,
> > from this viewpoint, if a use case is found to be solvable 
> > with existing
> > technology, at low risk, it would cease to be one that Simile 
> > should invest in.]
> 
> Actually it is both: for the initial prototyping phase, 
> SIMILE is following the latter approach i.e. is focusing on 
> researching new technologies inspired by the questions and 
> constraints of the use cases. I think in the initial 
> prototype phase we are almost certain to investigate schema 
> interoperation, and it would be possible to investigate web 
> of trust as well. I will try to draft a prototype proposal, 
> so then it will be down to the PIs to prioritise the 
> prototype activities. However due to the fact we've limited 
> each prototyping activity to three months, if it becomes 
> clear during that time that a technology is not really ready 
> for exploitation then we can probably de-emphasise that 
> technology when we move on to the second integration phase, 
> which will operate along the lines of the former approach. 
> 
> Dr Mark H. Butler
> Research Scientist                HP Labs Bristol
> mark-h_butler@hp.com
> Internet: http://www-uk.hpl.hp.com/people/marbut/
>

Received on Wednesday, 28 May 2003 12:46:40 UTC