Internet Info 1997 December/Internet_Info_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1997.iso/ietf/harts/arts-minutes-95apr.txt

Text File | 1995-06-01 | 7KB | 157 lines

The Arts:  Sharing Center Stage on the Internet BOF (ARTS)

Reported by Scott Stoner/ARTSEDGE at The Kennedy Center


Session Focus

Scott Stoner welcomed participants and outlined three goals for the
meeting:  1) define what is to be accomplished as a working group;
2) establish a work plan; and 3) identify a name for the working group.
Participants received a copy of the draft charter for an proposed arts
and humanities working group that was developed as a result of the
previous Arts BOF held in San Jose.

Prior to discussion of the above, the chair also asked for reaffirmation
from the group that there was a need to establish an IETF working group
focused on arts and humanities issues.  There was unanimous agreement
among participants that the need exists and those present were willing
to contribute to the development and implementation of a work plan.  It
became apparent that a significant number of individuals who attended
the previous BOF sessions had not been added to the ARTS mailing list
(which is why there was little response to the draft charter that was
circulated prior to this meeting).  Joyce Reynolds assured participants
that she would retrieve rosters of participants from each of the ARTS
BOF meetings and make certain all would be included on the ARTS mailing
list.


Discussion

Stoner asked the group to review the goals listed in the draft charter
document and to discuss whether there were additional needs not
addressed by the goals.  The primary need identified as a result of
initial discussion (and re-affirmed from previous BOF discussions) is
the lack of information and understanding between the technology-based
engineering community and the arts/humanities community about how the
Internet can serve as a tool and resource for sharing unique and complex
arts/humanities content.  The mission of the working group should thus
focus on building a bridge between the two communities that ensures
adequate representation of broad-based arts/humanities interests.  The
IETF, through the interests and resources of its members, provides the
most appropriate venue and infrastructure to accomplish the above (no
other organization has defined and/or responded to this important need).

Discussion then focused on defining and prioritizing objectives and
activities that would initiate and support an ongoing link between the
engineering and arts/humanities communities.  There was consensus that
arts and humanities constituents need a greater understanding of ways in
which the Internet can be used for purposes of creating, viewing, and
storing arts/humanities-based information and resources, as well as for
problem-solving and reinforcing an on-line community.  It was determined

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this would best be handled through the development of a FAQ regarding
the value and role of the arts in the Internet.

The FAQ document will be developed by first circulating a document among
key arts/humanities institutions and organizations nationally that
1) summarizes key options and opportunities for integrating
arts/humanities content and functions in the Internet, and 2) surveys
the constituents regarding needs and concerns they have regarding access
and use of the Internet.  The survey results will be analyzed by working
group members as the basis for developing the FAQ.

BOF participants identified some of the initial questions to be included
in the survey document as follows (note:  these are only presented as
examples in the order that they were presented during discussion).


   o What are your concerns regarding widespread dissemination of
     copyrighted material?
   o What type of arts/humanities content do you have to share?  (As an
     individual artist/writer or as an institution?)
   o Are you currently using the Internet?  How?  (If not, why not?)
   o How do you want to use it (e.g., to create, seek information, store
     information, etc.)?


It was also determined that the survey should be structured primarily as
multiple-choice questions and that respondents should be asked to
prioritize (i.e., rank-order) their responses to some questions.
Several BOF participants volunteered to assist with the preparation of
the survey instrument to ensure easy distribution, collection and
analysis of responses (including an on-line database to be hosted by a
university server).  An outline for the document and survey will be
developed and expanded via the ARTS Working Group mailing list.

Participants agreed that a draft document (4-5 pages) and survey could
be developed and completed for final review and approval at the next
IETF meeting (July 1995).  Working group participants would also use the
next three months to identify individuals , organizations, and
institutions to receive the document and survey.  This will include
constituencies from performing arts centers, visual art and cultural
museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions and organizations.

Discussion next focused on a second goal for the working group, which
would be to define presentation options and tools for artists and
organizations to create, view, and store content on the Internet.  This
would include tools and operating systems to support text, sound, and
both still and motion images.  It would also include an introduction
written for users with basic computer skills, glossary of basic
terminology and bibliography.  A draft outline for key areas of this FYI
RFC document will be developed for presentation at the next IETF and a
work plan defined at that meeting.

The third goal of the working group will be to address priority issues
and concerns as identified by the arts/humanities community from the

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survey results.  This will most likely include issues surrounding
copyright and intellectual property, funding, and other support for
arts/humanities participation in the Internet.

The final part of the discussion produced a name for the arts/humanities
working group which is:  ``Supporting Humanities and Arts' Research and
Engineering'' (SHARE).


Outcomes

The following is expected to take place as a result of the ARTS BOF
session:

A charter proposal will be presented to the IESG to establish the SHARE
Working Group.

A draft document (4-5 pages) regarding the role and value of the
arts/humanities on the Internet and accompanying survey will be
developed and presented for final review and approval at the July 1995
IETF meeting.  The document and survey will then be circulated,
responses analyzed and used to develop a draft FAQ for presentation at
the December 1995 IETF meeting.

A draft outline for an FYI RFC document describing options and
opportunities for including arts/humanities content on the Internet will
be developed for review and expansion at the July 1995 IETF meeting.  A
draft document will be developed and presented for review at the
December 1995 IETF meeting.

The final draft of both documents will be reviewed and approved at the
March 1996 IETF meeting.



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