Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!CS.UCL.AC.UK!P.Kirstein
From: P.Kirstein@CS.UCL.AC.UK
Newsgroups: comp.mail.multi-media
Subject: Re: Multi-media mail standards; Forw: Use of ODA in the Internet
Message-ID: <9008171019.AA09241@venera.isi.edu>
Date: 17 Aug 90 10:17:22 GMT
References: <21001.650832357@nma.com>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: inet
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 33

It is the current plan of many of the relevant bodies to
improve the gaps in ODA (data [and spreadsheets], SGML interworking, voice
content, security, more font support, colour,
hypertext support in particular) and
move that to a further standard.  I thought that the end of the year
was the date proposed for this to be completed as a Draft
Proposal.

While this does not deal with many of Nathaniel's concerns - in
particular annimation and execution from a document - it is by
no means clear that most of the bodies concerned would like to
see that in a standard at all at present.

Why is ODA not adequate for a mmm standard - at least it would
let us get started with services quickly.  If we start a long
experimental stage, we will not get services going within the
next five years.

My own preference would be to take the ODA standard as it now
is, and try to get agreed in (for example) the IFIP 6.5 arena a
version of the draft standard extensions to meet the most pressing needs.
My own vote would be for spreadsheets, colour, fonts and voice
conte) to be put in some form.  This should clearly be regarded
only as an "interception strategy", and we should be aware that
most of the manufacturers will not put in any work on the
extensions which have not been formally ratified.   We could
then get some multi-implementations testbedsquickly.  I need
the basic services, on the lines of being able to use the types
of facilities which exist already in my favourite editors in a
more open environment.  I am quite happy for a lengthy
experimentation period for the more advanced facilities - where the
whole model of how they will be used is still in the research
phase.