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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Ken!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you for all that info.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robert Hind (Semi-retired)<BR>Ashwood and
Traralgon<BR><A
href="mailto:robert@yinnar.com">robert@yinnar.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=kenjprice@gmail.com href="mailto:kenjprice@gmail.com">ken price</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=itapps@edulists.com.au
href="mailto:itapps@edulists.com.au">Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing
List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:24
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] ITA List
document sharing</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>The document file format problem has wider implications and is
a global issue worth considering. It might even be appropriate as a curriculum
topic (and hopefully not too far off topic..)<BR><BR>Organisations such as the
European Commission and NATO have expressed concern that the use of
proprietary document formats such as MS Word can lead to alienation of those
people (and nations) who do not use that format for personal or financial
reasons. They are also concerned that proprietary formats lock organisations
into one technology.<BR><BR>Quote:<BR>"Because of its specific role in
society, the public sector must avoid [a situation where] a specific product
is forced on anyone interacting with it electronically. Conversely, any
document format that does not discriminate against market actors and that can
be implemented across platforms should be encouraged. Likewise, the public
sector should avoid any format that does not safeguard equal opportunities to
market actors to implement format-processing applications, especially where
this might impose product selection on the side of citizens or businesses. In
this respect standardisation initiatives will ensure not only a fair and
competitive market but will also help safeguard the interoperability of
implementing solutions whilst preserving competition and
innovation."<BR><BR>They have largely agreed on an Open Document format,
mandated in some cases (eg all NATO correspondence). So has Australia's
National Archives.<BR><BR>Interestingly this had some implications. As
Microsoft Word was not an open standard, it would have meant that Microsoft
would have been unable to tender for provision of office software across the
public sector in most of Europe. Oddly enough MS quickly deveoped its own open
document standard and I understand will support ODF shortly (might already do
so)<BR><BR><A
href="http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/3439">http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/3439</A>
<BR><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument_adoption">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument_adoption</A>
<BR><BR>I guess organisations generally need to be a little cautious about
seeing commercial file formats (or operating systems, or hardware design, or
...) as being standards based solely on current market penetration. There are
social and ethical issues as well as practical issues to be considered
here. <BR><BR>As with most things in IT, some students might find this
worth investigating.<BR><BR>Cheers,<BR>Ken Price<BR>TASITE
Tasmania<BR><BR>_______________________________________________ <BR><A
href="http://www.edulists.com.au">http://www.edulists.com.au </A>- FAQ,
resources, subscribe, unsubscribe <BR>IT Applications Mailing List kindly
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</A>- Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and <BR><A
href="http://www.vitta.org.au">http://www.vitta.org.au </A>- VITTA Victorian
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