CNI White Paper on Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval

Outline: Chapter 4

A Critique of Current NIDR Objectives: Are These Goals Too Limited?

• interoperation vs. access/retrieval as a goal

• limited semantics within current NIDR framework; simple vs. complex objects. objects that require extensive software mediation and interpretation.

• assumption of human discoverer and human user for resources

• alternative visions: object spaces, federated databases, megaprogramming, semantic level interoperability, exportable ontologies and metadata, agent economies and ecologies, ...

• programs (agents) as direct end NIDR service consumers

• redefining retrieval: use of complex objects within NIDR framework directly rather than after import by user

• open vs. closed information spaces.

• can the old and the new visions coexist?

• the formation of communities around common semantics and interchange standards.

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nidrcall@cni.org