[topicmapmail] Thoughts about (the evolution of) topic maps

[Lars Marius Garshol]

Hi Tobias,

* Tobias Redmann
>
> until now, I thought a topic map is a abstract model (for knowledge  
> structures for example), but the standard says:
>
> "... a standardized notation for interchangeably representing  
> information
> about the structure of information resources used to define topics,  
> and the
> relationships between topics. A set of one or more documents that  
> employes
> the notation defined by this International Standard is called topic  
> map."
> (ISO 13250:2002)
>
> Let me summarize:
> A topic map is one or more DOCUMENT

I'm happy to say that this document (which is :2003, by the way) is  
now superseded by a newer version, which you can find here:

   http://www.isotopicmaps.org/sam/

> So, what about:
> - a thing (formally known as topic map) hold in a data base
> - things in mind ..

The new version has a different definition that is much closer to  
what you seem to want.

> Ok, lets have a look on the data model standard:
> "Topic Maps is a technology for encoding knowledge and connecting  
> this encoded knowledge to relevant
> information resources. Topic maps are organized around topics,  
> which represent subjects of discourse;
> associations, representing relationships between the subjects; and  
> occurrences, which connect the subjects to
> pertinent information resources."
>
> Let me summarize:
> Topic Maps is a TECHNOLOGY for encoding knowledge
>
> (But what is a technology?)

I think you missed a crucial bit in the new version. Look at the NOTE  
at the end of the introduction. It says:

   The phrase "topic maps" is used in two ways in this part of ISO/IEC
   13250: as a (capitalized) proper noun, "Topic Maps", denoting the  
name
   of ISO/IEC 13250; and as the plural of a common noun "topic map".  
[...]

In other words, "Topic Maps" is the technology defined by the  
standard, whereas a "topic map" is an abstract structure (an instance  
of the technology).

> So, what us a topic map:
> - Document?
> - Technology for encoding knowledge?
> - Abstract Structure?

A topic map is only the latter. It can be represented by a document.  
And Topic Maps is a technology.

> It is very confusing to define, what a topic map is. I would say:
>
> A topic map is a abstract model that describes knowledge  
> structures. This model may be represented in many ways (xtm, HyTM,  
> files db etc).

I agree.

--Lars M.