Friday, October 31, 2008

Reading Response #8

I reread the literature on XML and I am failing to see the dramatic difference between XML and HTML except that the former provides a more guided experience for users although it doesn't utilize a standardized coding format. Also, XML does have more specific identifying parameters within the coding set but creators are able to create their own DTDs (Document Type Definition). Will this affect how the document is searched on the web and is this new format more compatible with Web 2.0?

Another concern the reading raised was about uniformity. Currently, there is the struggle to create uniform metadata tags to generate more effective web searches. Similarly, semantic web research is trying to find away to incorporate the diversity of contexts but through a uniform metadata scheme so that information networks can create more efficient, streamlined queries. But if XML allows the creator to provide their own tag systems (although I am not familiar enough with XML to know if this affects search dynamics) this format could foster more user control but compound the problem of cataloguing information to make it more readily accessible.

1 comment:

Samantha Le Blanc said...

Yeah I'm not sure how XML will be compatible with metadata especially since you can create your own tags and DTD.