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Attribute Harmonisation: Is it Possible?

Attribute Harmonisation: Is it Possible?. Andrew Cormack Chief Regulatory Adviser, JANET(UK) Andrew.Cormack@ja.net. Tricks of Language. Languages have things in common “Computer” (EN) == “Computer” (IT) Things that look common but aren’t “Cheque” (EN) != “Check” (US)

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Attribute Harmonisation: Is it Possible?

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  1. Attribute Harmonisation:Is it Possible? Andrew Cormack Chief Regulatory Adviser, JANET(UK) Andrew.Cormack@ja.net

  2. Tricks of Language • Languages have things in common • “Computer” (EN) == “Computer” (IT) • Things that look common but aren’t • “Cheque” (EN) != “Check” (US) • “Bill” (EN) != “Bill” (US) • “Pavement” (EN) != “Pavement” (US) • Things that are untranslatable • “Saudade”, “Hiraeth”, ...

  3. How about Attributes? • Federations develop • Common origin • Adapt to local needs • e.g. Course catalogues • May absorb local culture too • Can we communicate between these? • When I say “tomato” do you • Understand? Misunderstand? Look blank?

  4. Attribute Esperanto? • International attribute standards • eduPerson • SCHAC • Etc. • Should mean we use same words • But let’s look at a common attribute • eduPerson[Scoped]Affiliation • Specification has a controlled vocabulary

  5. Good News • Most values are used consistently • Member, faculty, student • Alum, affiliate, library-walk-in • At least as consistent as the real world • What is a student? Or a member? • When is an alumnus? • Where do I walk in? • ...

  6. Bad News • Staff • UK: anyone who works here • Everyone else: a worker who is not faculty • Employee • UK: a worker who is not faculty • Some others: anyone who works here • Some others: anyone with a contract • Some others: value not used • Some federations have local additions

  7. Does it Matter? • Maybe less than it appears • Many services only need member • E.g. Site licences • Some external services need enumerated lists • So broken values don’t matter • Use ePE (IdP enumerated) or ePPN (SP enumerated) • Some internal services need internal categories • So broken values don’t help • And don’t matter, because per-fed they are consistent • Anyway: individual may be staff & student & employee!

  8. What to Do? • Define the really important stuff • Test the definitions • With your country/language and others • Document problems for others’ benefit • Don’t expect too much • Remember that you aren’t in Kansas • Things may really be different over there

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