1) Present
University of Bath
Brian Kelly - UK Web Focus
University of Dundee
Gwen Bayne - Remote Sensing
University of Edinburgh (JCMB)
Robert Black - Euromet
Jean Ritchie - UMI Coordinator
Charles Duncan - Remote Sensing
Kim Underwood - UMI Administrator
Martin Morrey - Remote Sensing
Napier University (Sighthill)
Jen Harvey - LTDI
Tom Scott - SUMSMAN
University of Paisley
Ian MacLaren - Remote Sensing
Neil Pitcher - SUMSMAN
John McQuillan - Remote Sensing
Patrick Walder - Remote Sensing
University of Strathclyde
Lorna Campbell - CVU
David McNicol - CVU
University of St Andrews
Collin Allison - FINESSE
Jose Serrano - FINESSE
Martin Bramley - FINESSE
2. Report from JR
2.1 High-level Chinese delegation (head of JISC, head of UKERNA, senior
network manager) visited JCMB. Remote Sensing project gave demonstration,
including NetMeeting. There is a possibility of a China-UK direct link
later this year and a further delegation may visit.
2.2 Held a meeting with projects’ evaluation specialists. Separate minutes will be published later this week.
2.3 Attended UKERNA/JTAP conference on Videoconferencing. Much interest expressed in the Scottish system. Norway has about 8 rooms designed in a similar way to our studios, but they were designed to include whiteboards and data links from the start. Prof Stephen Heppell (Anglia Polytechnic University) spoke via ISDN2; reminded us that verbal skills have become less and less used and that VC will encourage ‘auracy’; skill of defending ideas verbally becoming less taught. Convinced that multimedia and videoconferencing teaching techniques will if anything need more staff, but will enrich the learning experience immeasurably.
2.4 Kim has nearly finished preparing a CD ROM which includes examples of UMI web materials. Thanks to projects for giving permission to copy their home pages.
2.5 A tape is now available of the launch event. I have sought permission from most people on it, and will ask the remaining few, if it can be used during presentations.
2.6 Copyright is currently under discussion on the email list of the SMVCN managers. I will circulate their current thoughts; they are meeting on 15th May, so any comments from UMI projects can be forwarded to that meeting. This would also be a good meeting to give them feedback on the booking system. Please email problems about this to JR.
3. JR asked if UMI 2 projects had anything in particular they wanted to report.
NP thought that there would be a lot to learn from the Norwegian videoconference classrooms, as they had been designed specifically for teaching; their layout was interesting.
CD asked JR to tell the SMVCN contacts that a data projector, ethernet line and PC were needed in each studio.
4. Presentation by Brian Kelly on WWW7 Conference
4.1 The highlight of the conference, held in Brisbane, Australia last
month, was RDF (Resource Description Framework). Conference papers are
on line for a short period at
<http://www.dstc.edu.au/www7/>.
BK’s slides are available online at
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/seminars/umi-may1998/>
4.2 Tim Berners-Lee's opening keynote talk is at
<http://www.w3.org/Talks/>.
It focused on "evolvability" of the web and RDF. The goal is for earlier
versions of software to partially understand data created for later versions.
Cascading style-sheets are planned.
4.3 W3C talks were concerned with development in web protocol. Tracks were user interface domain, architecture domain, and technology and society domain. <http://www.w3.org/Conferences/WWW7/W3CTrack.html>
4.4 Dave Raggett spoke about HTML futures. HTML 4.0 is now complete and HTML futures need to be looked at. DR also spoke about the importance of mobile computers (PDAs, phones, car computers etc.) and related accessibility issues. Slides for this talk are available at <http://www.w3.org/Talks/1998/0416-WWW7-HTML/>
4.4 MML (Maths Markup Language), an XML application, uses Java and ActiveX renderers. DR has authoring tool freely available (Windows 95 application). For more information, see <http://www.w3.org/Math/>
4.5 The W3C architecture domain aims to promote coherent web architecture and automate information management (if a decision can be made by a machine, it should). See <http://www.w3.org/Talks/1998/04/WWW7-Arch/>
4.6 XML, Extensible Markup Language, (lightweight SGML, a "big hit" a year ago) addresses HTML's lack of evolvability. Sharing document structures using XML is hard (must have agreement across a community), but it is necessary for a richer generation of applications. More information on XML can be found at <http://www.w3.org/Talks/1998/04/WWW7-XML/>
4.7 HTTP/1.1 does not fit in with evolvability principles. HTTP/NG (Next
Generation) is based on convergence of internet protocols. See
<http://www.w3.org/Talks/1998/04/WWW7-HTTP-NG/>
4.8 Technology and society domain activities cover eg. PICS, Digital Signature Initiative, Privacy issues (PGP) and Metadata (RDF). More information at <http://www.w3.org/Talks/1998/04/WWW7TandS/>
4.9 XLink was also discussed. XLink aims to provide the sophisticated hyperlinking functionality missing in HTML <http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/>
4.10 James Gosling spoke at the WWW7 conference on "Random thoughts on software development for the web". He was positive about Java futures and said "This is the year the performance problem disappears."
4.11 Search and indexing techniques were also talked about. BK spoke of the possibility of an ac.uk national index.
4.12 WWW8 will be held in Toronto in May 1999. Call for papers for WWW8 will happen shortly, with the closing date to be December 1998.
4.12 JR mentioned she was interested in finding out more about the possibility
of a national index. BK told JR to liaise with him initially.
Action JR
4.13 CA asked whether there was any mention of performance analysis from a users point of view. BK said yes and suggested CA refer to the paper presented at the conference by Pitkow, "Summary of Web Characterisation".
4.14 CD mentioned the problem of not being able to print what you see when using Java and asked if this had been addressed at the conference. BK said there is nothing that can be done to overcome this as yet but it is something which is being looked into.
4.15 A standard set of RDF tags was needed, sets might be developed for use in documents developed by different communities, eg for distance learning community, for uk.ac community.
4.16 BK said he will join the umi-info mailbase list so discussion and
questions on WWW7 conference can continue. JR will inform BK of the list
address.
Action JR
5. AOB
5.1 JR suggested that there be no external speaker at the next UMI
meeting so UMI project holders can discuss the presentations given by EZ
(27/4/98) and BK (11/5/98). There were no objections to this.
5.2 The next UMI meeting is scheduled for the 25th May, however, it
is possible that this is a university holiday at University of Strathclyde.
LC will let JR know if 25th is a holiday so the next meeting date can be
worked out.
Action LC