Re: REQDOC: Change List from Editors

From: Jeff Heflin <heflin@cse.lehigh.edu>
Subject: Re: REQDOC: Change List from Editors
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 10:58:32 -0500

[...]

> > 2/ The introduction to the document reads as if the requirements therein
> >    are more than cast-in-stone.  It needs to be toned down to note that it
> >    is a document that has been produced by fallable humans, who have to be
> >    able to fix their mistakes without causing the end of the world as we
> >    know it.
> 
> Would a statement to the effect that "the Working Group reserves the
> right to remove or add requirements" help?

Not really.  Wording in the introduction, and elsewhere in the document,
has the effect of making the document read like ``revealed truth''.  I
would very much like the document not to carry this sort of connotation.

[...]

> > 4/ Many of the objectives are not adequately defined.
> > 
> >    a) Chained properties
> >       Where and when are chained properties allowed?
> >    b) Variables
> >       What do variables mean?  Where can they occur?  What power should
> >       they provide?
> >    c) Arithmetic primitives
> >       What sort of primitives?  Where can they occur?
> >    d) String manipulation
> >       See above.
> >    e) Pre- and post- conditions
> >       What do these mean?  Do they require that OWL incorporate a theory of
> >       time and action?
> 
> I'm not sure if we can provide the kind of details you ask for at this
> time. Where these things can occur depends on the structure of the
> language that we end up with. A lot of these would be more appropriate
> for a rule-based language than a description logic. Of course, if anyone
> would like to provide a more detailed description of one or more of
> these, please be my guest.

I would be satisified if there was some mention that these objectives are
not yet adequately defined and their continued status as objectives depend
on their proponents providing such definition as well as motivation for the
defined objectives.

[...]

Peter F. Patel-Schneider
Bell Labs Research

Received on Wednesday, 20 February 2002 11:15:45 UTC