Re: [Fsfe-uk] Fwd: OSS Watch inaugural conference, 11 December 2003

[Kevin Donnelly]

On Wednesday 04 February 2004 10:36 am, Andrew Savory wrote:
> - OSS Watch survey findings: interoperability a major factor in
> educational Open Source adoption.
> http://www.cetis.ac.uk/content2/20031217162457

I find it ironic that "interoperability" is a "major factor" when the main 
issue here is that most institutions (particularly FE) have got themselves 
hooked on a vendor that spins its own pseudo-standards for commercial 
reasons, and always will (cf XML).  Rather than trying to nail jelly to the 
wall, the sensible thing would be for someone (OSS Watch, perchance?) to take 
a lead and start defining what is required in interoperability and how much 
of that is covered by open standards, and then for the FE/HE sector to demand 
compliance with that from their vendors.  But perhaps that's too obvious.

-- 

Best wishes

Kevin Donnelly

www.kyfieithu.co.uk - Meddalwedd Rhydd yn Gymraeg