On Nov 22, 2005, at 2:50 AM, Jon Tan wrote:
...
I think they've already said no to this and I don't think they
need a special invitation.
Have they said no outright?
Personally, I don't care. Of course:
Of course, if anyone here has contact at Google, you should bug
them incessantly until they implement µf's. :D
Also, we have a good number of formats that need work. It'd be
nice to move some alone, rather than just starting new efforts.
The issue of an API and whether it is closed or open may be
depreciated if the data that Google Base will hold is in
Microformats and could possibly be aggregated in other ways
anyway? Supporting MFs input and output may also, in the long
run, be a way for GBase to be more comprehensive and useful.
This is, of course, for google to decide.
...with perhaps a little encouragement on every level.
I encourage every googler I meet (which is many levels). There are
definitley googlers interested in µf's, but there's only so much we
can do.
...
Searching for products, property and jobs could be revolutionised
by MFs and immensely valuable for all users, whether they know what
the blogosphere is or not.
No one would disagree with you here. In fact if you'd read the
archives and/or the wiki, you'd see that a good deal of discussion
and research has been put towards this purpose already (see http://
microformats.org/wiki/listing-examples and http://microformats.org/
wiki/listing-brainstorming).
If it was ever seriously suggested that until current ones are in
widespread use others should be on hold or not be discussed it
would be unfortunate.
I'm just saying that we could use help with moving along current
formats.
...
Don't confuse enthusiasm for a potential result with critisism of
the here and now. At Grow we are implementing MFs unilaterally and
will get to experimenting with apps in time and are willing to work
with the community on any level to facilitate other development.
That's great.
In the meantime in regard to the GBase question my point was that
they have their app now. I don't think there's a need to compete
but for any possible faults it may have in relation to open data
formats, GBase will no doubt appeal to non technical users outside
the blogosphere and perhaps MFs need to do the same somehow or at
some point?
Of course µf's need to expand outside the blogosphere. Just not
today. We're still in an early adopter stage- and that's ok, because
this is how it always works. Someday soon, someone around here will
build a killer-app that will enable my mom to use µf's (even if she
doesn't understand, still). Until then, I'm not worried.
....
We taking on a lot of things with microforats - entrenched
technologies, companies and ways of thinking. I don't think we
should add media hacking to that list.
I don't think that awareness building and positive engagement with
mainstream media who possibly represent a significant webview held
by end-users is media hacking. It goes to my view that if non-open
formats like GBase pose a problem then supporting MFs from both
sides is logical: Encouraging the participation and implementation
by authors and technologists. Then also identifying the problems
non-technologist end-users currently encounter and showing how MFs
could help solve them.
FWIW, we're already doing this last part, just not in the media.
It doesn't require a killer app but an explanation of the features,
benefits and incentives by fictional case study for journalists,
non-techies and organisations might help. I'd also be willing to
contribute towards this if folks think it would be useful?
I just don't see journalists being able to help us that much. We're
doing pretty well without much press coverage.
Now having said that, I see nothing wrong with people preparing press
material, if you're interested.
There's many other things you can do to help:
1. publish microformats
2. write tools which use microformats
3. educate people about microformats
4. research and develop new formats
Currently doing or trying.
Great.
-ryan
--
Ryan King
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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