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To: Steve Bannister who wrote (29695)	1/2/2000 9:47:00 PM
From: Frederick Smart	Respond to of 42771

Thanks Steve.... >>Frederick, if you haven't already, read the last few chapters of the Berners-Lee book "Weaving the Web". Provocative ideas on the "Semantic Web" founded on a generalized data representation (XML) and future languages (RDF) that will operate on it. I think you will find it an interesting and, to you, comfortable space.>> Appreciate the reference Steve. >>Also, it is worth considering the ratio of structured (mainly SQL, IMS, and dBase derivative) data vs. unstructured data in the world today. I bet it is at least 80% unstructured when you consider that most file system data is unstructured, at least in the database sense. I believe that ALL that unstructured data is a candidate to be converted to semi-structured using XML, and that database structured data will be represented as XML, as is already happening in Oracle, Universal DB, and SQL Server.>> Our excitement for XML is that it represents an incredible revolutionary technological catalyst. But it's only a catalyst if you put THE INDIVIDUAL at the top of the pyramid - or, conversely, you acknowledge and believe the pyramid has already been turned upside down. I happen to think the world has already been turned upside down but that the vast majority of people don't factor in the fact that INDIVIDUALS - not companies - represent THE ONLY destinations worth connecting and extending control to. >>My point is that all the data in the world is a candidate for XML structuring, which is powerful if we figure out how to reconcile schema collisions. That is part of what Berners-Lee addresses.>> The other thing about XML which really excites us is that this process of structuring heretofor unstructured data will be done in service to INDIVIDUALS. The power of XML is in the way it will confirm that individuals, NOT COMPANIES, are the true owners of ALL core data. Educating individuals about this will be a huge mission going forward. The extent to which you/we/theworld unshackle and FREE data and information from the bonds of company power and control paradigm is the extent to which we can all really discover and share the fruits of the next real frontier - KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge should be ubiquitously shared, earned and freely given out to everyone, anywhere, anytime, regardless of status, etc. The discovery of knowledge should be as clean and clear and as fun as playing with kids. ALL learning should be FUN!! Failure should be FUN!! Sharing should be FUN!! I don't want the power of XML to be controlled by companies. I want this power to be shared and controlled by individuals. This may sound crazy to many for there are so many BIG egos in the structured database technology game. I liken these egos and the state of software development in relation to the internet to the power/control dominion games the big mainframe shops of the 70's exterted over companies and the individuals working within them. We now we have distributed computing via PC's and the Internet, but the same ego and power/control games are being played. I saw Bill Gates on Larry King Live last night and it's just incredible how completely oblivious he is to these realities. I see vast New Frontiers which will radically change the entire way we view the Internet and interact with technology in general. I almost feel like Bill and Paul must have felt in the 70's. Thanks again Steve. Peace. GO!!

To: Steve Bannister who wrote (29695)	1/3/2000 11:04:00 AM
From: Scott C. Lemon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42771

Hello Steve, You bring up some very interesting points ... several of which I believe are still the areas of confusion with XML ... > I believe that ALL that unstructured data is a candidate to be > converted to semi-structured using XML, and that database > structured data will be represented as XML, as is already happening > in Oracle, Universal DB, and SQL Server. "Converted" is a very strong word, and tends to mean many different things. For some reason, many people think that data has to be "converted" and then "stored" in XML format ... and I believe this is where these same people have lost sight of layered development of software, and forgotten about the separation of storage, access protocols, and language (or formatting). The "conversion" is something that can easily be done with the proper implementation of an access protocol and a service which performs this translation "on the fly" ... and I believe that if you look at Oracle, Universal DB, and SQL Server this is what you will see ... > My point is that all the data in the world is a candidate for XML > structuring, which is powerful if we figure out how to reconcile > schema collisions. That is part of what Berners-Lee addresses. And as I argued with some folks while at Novell, it is really the schema that is important, not XML or any particular "encoding" of the data. The "naming" of data or information is crucial for us to know that we are discussing the same thing ... If you look at Microsoft's BizTalk ... sure they are using XML, but the point of the site is the "naming" and definition of schema. This allows us to exchange information even if we have two different access protocols and storage methods ... (I'll predict that there will be another format/language post-XML ... it's just a matter of time ... ;-) Scott C. Lemon