[sc34wg3] a new name for the Reference Model

[Lars Marius Garshol]

* Michel Biezunski
| 
| I don't think "Topic Map Information Set" is appropriate (too much
| XML: see why in another message).  

You do need to know what the XML Infoset is to understand the name,
and that is a drawback. It is a small one, however.

| The only problem with "Topic Map Model", which I like is that it
| tends to deny the possibility of creating other Topic Maps-based
| models. 

To some extent that is true, but

 - adding "Standard" in front of "Model" is not going to help.  Any
   other model we might create will also be a standard.

 - we do not plan to create any other such models, so coming up with
   names that will help us distinguish the model we have now from ones
   that we may one decide to create is not going to be possible.

 - if we do create entirely new models that are not later versions of
   this one it would seem rather strange to call them "Topic Maps", so
   we might then call it the "Foo Model" and thereby solve the
   problem.

| (See my comment on Names as an example where this could be useful).

This is essentially the same as saying the SAM is not the data model
of topic maps, but that the Reference Model is, and that any
implementor who wishes to implement topic maps must implement the RM
rather than the SAM. This approach is essentially a form of suicide,
though admittedly a quick and relatively painless one.

| I believe we should further explore exactly what we mean by a topic
| map model which would not be the standard one, try to find concrete
| examples, then the name will come naturally. Anybody who can help
| trying to figure that out, please do.

Why would we want to do something like this? 
 
| I also agree with Steve P. that using the word "models" to describe
| the 2 levels might be another factor of confusion. But I am not yet
| convinced we have the solution now.

I think we do. We call the lower level a "model" and the upper level
used to create it a "metamodel".

-- 
Lars Marius Garshol, Ontopian         <URL: http://www.ontopia.net >
ISO SC34/WG3, OASIS GeoLang TC        <URL: http://www.garshol.priv.no >