On Thu, 22 Apr 2004, David Forslund wrote: ... > > The hxp effort begins by indexing the various XML structures that > > different free/open-source systems use. From there, we can discuss and > > move toward standardization. This is my understanding and hope for the hxp > > project. > > What about ebXML? This work is already done.
Dave, ebXML is fine too. I believe the usefulness of XML lies in capabilities to map and tranform semantics between various XML structures. In other words, if we can all agree on a single semantic framework, then we don't need XML to start with. This is why I think hxp is an essential step - regardless of how perfect ebXML may be. > Also, indexing various XML structures may not help much unless we > understand the underlying semantics. Absolutely. Operationally, "understand" means developing artifacts to transform between different representations and between related concepts. I have described the need for these "form-to-form translators" in the past. > > Rather than waiting for a single useful standard to come down from the > > gods in the sky (or Washington D.C., HL7, etc), I think hxp offers a more > > promising approach. > > These standards should be regarded as "gods in the sky" but rather > groups of people like you and me Dave, I don't think they are anything like you and me :-). > that want to work together to help in interoperability. Are you sure about that? I believe there is rampant conflict-of-interest involved that makes their godly work hopeless. > I appreciate what HXP is doing but it may only be yet another effort in > this area. I believe hxp is the first free/open-source group working on interoperability that has delivered a functioning test server! > If it doesn't leverage the work done by many organizations and build on > them, it will not be all that useful. Whether hxp will or will not leverage previous work and Whether it will ever be useful rest in our hands. Any of us can decide to contribute to a lowly-but-practical solution or to wait for salvation via gods. There is no money to bribe/fund and no fancy titles to award/impress. Again, quite different from how gods operate. Best regards, Andrew --- Andrew P. Ho, M.D. OIO: Open Infrastructure for Outcomes www.TxOutcome.Org
