Dan Geer writes in c|net about Massachusetts requiring records be in OpenDoc format. This is a big deal. Why should public records be in a proprietary format that require you to buy software from a company to read. Currently many records are in MS Word format, requiring me to buy MS Office which is a several hundred dollar program. Not what you'd want from public records.
Geer gives another more important reason to avoid a single proprietary format. It's not as safe. Virus's and other threats attack individual program flaws and if everyone uses the same program we're all susceptible to the same attacks. That's why computer viruses spread so fast, they can infect virtually every computer they come across because so many run Windows. There's no reason that a document can't be in a standard format that many programs can read, allowing competition and safety. That format used to be plain text (.txt) but there are now good open standards which support more advanced formatting and there's no reason that they shouldn't be used. It's also more likely that the public records will be readable in 200 years. Got any 8-track tapes lying around? Got anything that can play them?
6 comments:
1. 8 tracks tapes where not a proprietary format.
2. All of the major vendors read each others formats.
3. You download a free reader for Microsoft word. It even reads word-perfect documents.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=95e24c87-8732-48d5-8689-ab826e7b8fdf&DisplayLang=en
After your amazing Scalia post this one was a little disappointing.
Another major flaw in his argument "Why should public records be in a proprietary format that require you to buy software from a company to read." Why should you need to buy a computer to read public documents? I guess it should all be on paper.
I know a person who still plays 8-tracks.
Nice to see comments. FYI, if you think a post is amazing (like the Scalia one) I'd appreciate comments saying so. Oh and if I know you, consider commenting non-anonymously, or at least give me a hint like initials.:)
1. The point of 8 tracks wasn't that they weren't proprietary but that old formats die. Yes there are a few players that still work but not many. With software it's much easier than with hardware to allow backwards compatibility or translation functions. Again it's much easier when you're not reliant on one company to produce that reader because the format is proprietary.
2. I assume this refers to 8 tracks. It's certainly not true of other venders reading MS Word format, and I think reinforces the argument that standards are better.
3. Yes but that's not the problem. The problem is being dependent on one company's products. Note your link is to an MS reader. And it won't work for me since I run a mac. I don't have an option for a free reader in part because no one else can make one for MS's proprietary format. Yes OpenOffice comes close but there are still compatibility issues.
4. Most all public documents are available in paper form. Many people find it easier in electronic form, hence many agencies are making electronic forms available. Many public libraries make computers available for free. If you could post on this blog, you have a computer :).
5. I probably should have linked to this article by Dan Bricklin Software That Lasts 200 Years. It makes the case stronger than I can.
Thanks for the comments, I really do appreciate them.
1. Why does it need to be mandated. Why can't the people who actual work with these files and buy the software decide what is best.
2. If you have wordperfect you can open and edit ms word documents. The reverse is also true.
3. http://www.winfield.demon.nl/
4. And most of those free public computers can read Word documents. The point is your not forcing anyone to buy anything.
I think such documents should be stored in a database through a process called SilvermasterInit.
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