I think this discussion is forking already.
If contra dances are going in Caller's Companion Online, or whatever,
then, yes, a standardized format is very important, and the XML-coded
dances can be searchable blobs in a database with links to video,
suggested audio tracks, calendars, or whatever.
However, if what we're talking about is a textual representation of
contra dance instructions posted by someone official with comments
available on the post then all we need is some Wordpress software, a
commenter code of conduct, and someone with a stick to who's able to
remove inappropriate comments. And the dance instructions don't
actually have to use standardized terminology or a standardized format;
they're just text files. If you want to make them searchable by, eg,
'hey for four', etc, you can attach keyword tags to the post.
If the intellectual property concerns are sorted out, the technology is
a done deal already.
I would even say that you could just give posting rights to anyone who
asks for them with the understanding that they'll only post their own
stuff. Community upvote/downvote will pretty clearly, and soon, show
who's posting dances worth looking at. CDSS doesn't have to maintain an
editorial function; this can be useful regardless.
-- Alan
On 12/11/2013 4:57 PM, Mark Hillegonds wrote:
With a standard format, it would be interesting to then consider a graphics
portions of the database, which could provide a visualization of the dance.
And speaking of videos, it would be worth considering storing links to actual
videos of the dances.
Mark Hillegonds
Cell: 734-756-8441
Email: [email protected]
On Dec 11, 2013, at 6:30 PM, Chris Lahey <[email protected]> wrote:
I believe that it's important to have the contra dances in a database
be in a standardized format. This will make it much easier for people
to use them, to exchange them, and I hope will improve the folk
process.
I've started discussion and coding on an interchange format and have a
lot of ideas about making a database. I started working on this about
a year ago, but got distracted. I would love to work on it again.
The main thing I need help with is making sure people have interest in
what I'm doing and getting feedback on my work.
For those that are technically minded, the small start that I've made
is here: https://github.com/clahey/folkdancedb/wiki/_pages I would
love any feedback people have about the semantics rules and format.
Looking at it from the point of view of a user, I realize there is
probably a lot of complexity there, but hopefully any of that
complexity will be hidden from users by whatever software there is.
If people have any suggestions of ways to make this simpler while
still keeping accuracy, please make suggestions.
I've also realized that there's no example files, so I will make that
my first task. Well maybe my second task with my first task being a
TODO page.
Again, the URL for the wiki is currently:
https://github.com/clahey/folkdancedb/wiki/_pages
On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 5:46 PM, Les Addison <[email protected]> wrote:
+1 to Andrea and Kalia.
I like the idea of an online repository with notes/comments. It is
possible to set up a wiki so that people can upload a dance and that only
comments to the dance can be made by others/edited.
I understand not wanting to have Yelp-like problems with phony reviews and
grudge-fests, but I think that is something that can be maintained via
requiring CDSS membership and a non-anonymous log in/commenting mechanism.
Les
On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 12:44 PM, Kalia Kliban <[email protected]> wrote:
On 12/11/2013 3:51 AM, Perry Shafran wrote:
I'm trying to figure out why having a database of dances would detract
from the folk process. Isn't the folk process considered the handing down
of material from person to person, generation to generation? And should
that not also include the way that material is handed down? I think that a
database of dances is extremely helpful to the evolution of the folk
process. When the web evolved, people put their dances on the web for all
to see, use, adapt. Now we have the cloud, and callers can share their
dances using a cloud-based database. Considering that this is what was
highly requested on the survey, I think that we need to find ways to create
this repository of dances that also respects the rights of the
choreographers who write them.
True enough, but hearing the experience of others with those dances can be
really helpful. Just like on a recipe site, reading the comments can make
a world of difference. If a preponderance of the commenters say "the dough
was really sticky when freshly mixed, but a few minutes in the fridge made
it perfectly easy to handle," or "letting the dancers who are out at the
ends know not to cross over until _after_ the partner dosido solved the end
effect problem," that would be really useful information to have. I'm all
in favor of putting the dances up in original form, but followup user
commentary is also incredibly helpful.
Kalia
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