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2 philosophical cents (well, really a rant, I'll admit):<br>
<br>
A remarkable number of the best, easiest, and most powerful ideas are
pushed off of our table by a perceived requirement that access to data
be restricted. Elements of this are inevitable. Still I believe that
we should find much better ways as a data technology community
(including our own ESG project) to allow the superior technology
options that become available through open access to shine. <br>
<br>
At the org-chart level there is a broken system of
checks-and-balances. The requirements for restricted access are
imposed down the line in the org chart, without any mechanism for
push-back -- for explaining to those who impose the restrictions what
unintended price is being paid by doing so. While the org chart
relationships tie our hands, the Web as a visible showcase for good
ideas can provide the missing force of balance. We are seeing just
this as we weigh BioTorrents against our own solutions. <br>
<br>
I wonder if we shouldn't be promoting the (superior) technologies that
become available with open access in parallel with the (costly and
permanently slower to evolve) secure federated approaches. Clearly
access-restricted datasets could not be hosted on the open systems.
But that absence would be precisely the loss that makes the technology
cost of restricted access visible. Building dual-access systems would
be an imperfect solution to an imperfect social equation. But it
would allow us to contribute to long-term improvements in dysfunctional
policies at the same time that we explore (fun) new technologies.<br>
<br>
- Steve<br>
<br>
=========================================<br>
<br>
Alex Sim wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4BCDD4BA.1030505@lbl.gov" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">If we can resolve authorization aspects on the datasets with torrents,
we can probably support torrents technology in the future. all data
access is open in this torrents and most others too.
-- Alex
On 4/20/10 8:40 AM, V. Balaji wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap=""><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010071">http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010071</a>
It's a great pity we aren't using torrent technology in our field...
</pre>
</blockquote>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Steve Hankin, NOAA/PMEL -- <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Steven.C.Hankin@noaa.gov">Steven.C.Hankin@noaa.gov</a>
7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070
ph. (206) 526-6080, FAX (206) 526-6744
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men
to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke</pre>
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