Open Source Standards

So the first thing to say is, when it comes to standards, there is always disagreement.

Why do we have standards in the first place?  Well, it is like a common language.  If a number of people are talking about the same thing, but using different languages, no one will understand each other.  Instructions on how to put something together in one specific language, would be impossible to duplicate by someone who can not understand that instruction.

Of course...  there's certainly an app for that...

But is it a standard app?  Is it an open source app?  Can someone understand how to use the app?  Is there a standard interface which is intuitive and natural and used in all apps?  And...  does it have to comply to a standard?

And...  would everyone agree?

Just because a standard is created, does not mean that everyone will use it.  There

are plenty of examples of Standards in the technology world.  Things like HTML code so that all browsers show a web page the same way, or how wireless networks transmit data, or the inner workings of documents, underneath all the text, graphics, etc.  But the reality is, many companies think, if something is standard and they use the standard, they don't have a unique sell point.  So there becomes a play to add something that is unique, change the standard for their own use, or use their own, non-standard protocol, so that their products are proprietary and people can't just switch to something else, on a whim.

And just because a standard doesn't exist, does not mean a standard does not

surface.  Cars are the way they are not because of a standard, but because it was intuitive and so manufacturers ultimately build cars with the same look and feel.  Other example would be a camera or a door or a stove.  To come up with a new type of lawn mower might attract people because it is unique, but if it doesn't operate the same way as other lawn mowers, it has a poor chance of broad adoption, unless it really is a step up from what came before.

A book looks, feels, and operates the way it does, because it is intuitive and has long been that way.  Certainly, while in some places, books read from right to left, just like cars might be left or right hand drive, they otherwise are the same.  So in making books digital, there has been some great challenges in getting user adoption.  The most popular types of digital book devices, are those which function in similar ways to how the "analogue" version of a book functions.  All page content displayed on the screen without the need to scroll.  New page content accessed by "flipping the page".  Having page numbers and indexes so that a reader can quickly access chapters.  There might be a better way, but until the better way is adopted, people like things that are familiar and easy to use.

For as long as there have been standards, there have been companies that get involved in the standard process.  Often, standards are created by those same companies, without input from others.  The idea was to copyright and own the rights to the standard, so that licensing could be sold for others to use the standard.  One way or the other, companies have tried to own or control a standard.  It was very frustrating for those involved and eventually, a change began.

Let's take a quick back step, here.  An Open Standard is, in a way, an oxymoron.  Open referring to reduced or no barrier to entry and Standard being an imposed method.  It is almost hard to wrap one's mind around the idea.  Nevertheless, the more important part is having no barrier to entry, so in principle, it has merit.  Then, of course, there is the reality of having everyone agree.  And not everyone agrees, even with Open Standards.

Wikipedia has an extensive document about Open Standards.  Right from the start of the document, there is a notification that the article itself, does not comply to the wikipedia standard of a wikipedia document.  It then goes on to describe all the many definitions and uses of the term Open Standard.  The whole idea is politically, ethically, and morally charged.  A battle of will for control.  Yet there is great value given back to society, in the sense that, at least these standards generally provide a framework for how something might look, feel, or operate.  Whether one wants to follow the standard, is up to them.  So long as the standard is not, in itself, restrictive

and a barrier to entry.

So how does this story end?  How does it relate to Open Source, or Open anything?  I suppose it comes down to how one looks at it.  If there are compelling reasons for something to be done in a specific way, then it is worth creating an open standard around it.  If there are no compelling reasons, yet an open standard exists, then it really ends up being a decision of the individual, whether to follow the standard, or not.  As standards really are, just a guideline.