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Issue Analysis: Open Standards – ODF implementation. Gaurab Misra MIS Practicum. Open Standards. The Relative Ease of integration of different communication platforms into other systems’ operations
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Issue Analysis: Open Standards – ODF implementation GaurabMisra MIS Practicum
Open Standards • The Relative Ease of integration of different communication platforms into other systems’ operations • A set of consistent guidelines for diverse systems operating together, multiple systems able to use information exchanged between them
Benefits/Disadvantages • Benefits • Available to everyone for examination/application • Creation of fair and competitive environment for all to apply • No vendor can lock in a specific user/group • Disadvantages • Enforceability of true “open” standard • Technical “hooks” built in to open-source software, enabling co’s developing software to establish or claim licensing and dist. Rights • Enforced compatibility with mitigating systems can cause vulnerability to security breach • Technical limitations/compatibility with existing proprietary standards currently dominating market
Who Determines an Open standard? • International Organization for Standardization-ISO • Composed of members of other countries’ standardization boards • ISO/IEC Joint Committee 1 – formed to facilitate IT standards to meet business and user requirements • Ecma (fmrly European Computer Manufacturer’s Assoc) • Composed of membership made up of co’s producing systems in Europe
Specific Areas • Open Document Format (ODF) • Open source standard file format for electronic documents i.e. Spreadsheet, word processing, charts, graphs, slide presentations • Supported by myriad open-source software • Web-based Office Suite • Content Management Systems • Knowledge Management Solutions
Currently not supported by…… • MICROSOFT! • Not supported until year 2007, baby steps being taken • File converter plugins being developed by third parties • Microsoft creating own platform: OOXML integrated into Office 2007
Issues • ODF created and developed to enable interoperability and document sharing accessibility • XML-based • Alternative to proprietary systems • Created to offset effects of proprietary systems which are legacy or headed to obsolescence, becoming expensive or impossible to access • No royalties or licensing legalities • Save businesses and consumers money
Factors preventing acceptance • Lack of knowledge among governments, policymakers and organizations about the format • Resistance from proprietary software producers • MS Powerful Lobbyists • Commonwealth of MA – reversed 2005 stance on initiative to switch to open standard applications and approved MS’ OOXML as open standard
Difficulties of implementation • Proprietary software co’s lock on majority of organizations + enterprises • In gov’ts and large bureaucracies there may not be high level of redundancy between subdivisions and bus. Processes – difficult to standardize • Support: • Fewer drivers for tech support until Open-source was adopted for development by larger co’s like Sun and Novell • Blueprint and tech specs have a maturity curve, standardization more difficult, developers going on divergent paths
Who should be concerned? • Governments • Proprietary Software Producers • Technology developers • Lobbyists • Members of Boards of Standards