Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 13:12:53 -0500
From: Katherine Morrow <kmorrow@BELLANET.ORG>
Reply-To: General discussion of Extensible Markup Language
<XML-L@LISTSERV.HEANET.IE>
To: XML-L@LISTSERV.HEANET.IE
Subject: An XML Initiative in the International Development Sector
DEVELOPMENT MARKUP LANGUAGE XML for the International Development Community
Minutes of a Meeting held in Ottawa, Canada, January 13-14, 1999.
The meeting was hosted by the Bellanet International Secretariat and the International Development Research Centre for the purpose of exploring the potential of the Extensible Markup Language (XML) for improved information sharing in the international development community. Participants were introduced to the concepts of XML through expert presentations by Tim Bray and others. Potential applications of a Development Markup Language, an XML Document Type Definition specific to the international development sector, were demonstrated and discussed. Participants shared lessons learned from previous joint standards and information initiatives such as IDRIS, DDBS, INDIX, Dublin Core, CEFDA, and CALS. Plans for several pilot projects emerged from discussions. A follow-up meeting is to be held in May 1999 in Maastricht, Netherlands.
The full minutes are available online at http://www.bellanet.org/xml, or by contacting the Bellanet International Secretariat, PO Box 8500, Ottawa, Canada K1G 3H9. Tel. (613) 236-6163 ext. 2398; Fax (613) 238-7230; Email info@bellanet.org.