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This analysis explores the Open Document Format (ODF) and its significance within the realm of open standards. It examines the benefits and disadvantages of ODF, such as promoting interoperability, accessibility, and affordability for businesses and consumers. However, it also addresses issues like the lack of awareness among stakeholders, resistance from proprietary software vendors, and challenges in implementation. Furthermore, the paper discusses the roles of organizations like ISO and Ecma in establishing standards. A must-read for policymakers, developers, and technology advocates.
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Issue Analysis: Open Standards – ODF implementation GaurabMisra MIS Practicum
Open Standards • The Relative Ease of integration of different communication platforms into other systems’ operations • A set of consistent guidelines for diverse systems operating together, multiple systems able to use information exchanged between them
Benefits/Disadvantages • Benefits • Available to everyone for examination/application • Creation of fair and competitive environment for all to apply • No vendor can lock in a specific user/group • Disadvantages • Enforceability of true “open” standard • Technical “hooks” built in to open-source software, enabling co’s developing software to establish or claim licensing and dist. Rights • Enforced compatibility with mitigating systems can cause vulnerability to security breach • Technical limitations/compatibility with existing proprietary standards currently dominating market
Who Determines an Open standard? • International Organization for Standardization-ISO • Composed of members of other countries’ standardization boards • ISO/IEC Joint Committee 1 – formed to facilitate IT standards to meet business and user requirements • Ecma (fmrly European Computer Manufacturer’s Assoc) • Composed of membership made up of co’s producing systems in Europe
Specific Areas • Open Document Format (ODF) • Open source standard file format for electronic documents i.e. Spreadsheet, word processing, charts, graphs, slide presentations • Supported by myriad open-source software • Web-based Office Suite • Content Management Systems • Knowledge Management Solutions
Currently not supported by…… • MICROSOFT! • Not supported until year 2007, baby steps being taken • File converter plugins being developed by third parties • Microsoft creating own platform: OOXML integrated into Office 2007
Issues • ODF created and developed to enable interoperability and document sharing accessibility • XML-based • Alternative to proprietary systems • Created to offset effects of proprietary systems which are legacy or headed to obsolescence, becoming expensive or impossible to access • No royalties or licensing legalities • Save businesses and consumers money
Factors preventing acceptance • Lack of knowledge among governments, policymakers and organizations about the format • Resistance from proprietary software producers • MS Powerful Lobbyists • Commonwealth of MA – reversed 2005 stance on initiative to switch to open standard applications and approved MS’ OOXML as open standard
Difficulties of implementation • Proprietary software co’s lock on majority of organizations + enterprises • In gov’ts and large bureaucracies there may not be high level of redundancy between subdivisions and bus. Processes – difficult to standardize • Support: • Fewer drivers for tech support until Open-source was adopted for development by larger co’s like Sun and Novell • Blueprint and tech specs have a maturity curve, standardization more difficult, developers going on divergent paths
Who should be concerned? • Governments • Proprietary Software Producers • Technology developers • Lobbyists • Members of Boards of Standards