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RE: Boundless Space and Identity

• To: "'michael.h.kay@n...'" <michael.h.kay@n...>, 'xml-dev' <xml-dev@l...>
• Subject: RE: Boundless Space and Identity
• From: "Bullard, Claude L (Len)" <clbullar@i...>
• Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 08:39:22 -0500

A real number is a systemic means to name points 
on a line.  The line need not be infinite, but it 
even it is, position is the way to name.  The 
boundary can be set by declaring a range, limiting 
the function, etc.   Remember, 'effective addressing'. 
Addressing into infinite space is likely to become 
entropic.  Boundaries establish scope.

What am I getting at?  Clarity.  We may be  
asked to accept definitions that depend on terms 
such as "information space".  I want to be 
clear about what kinds of boundaries establish when 
an information item in an information space is 
"on the web" and "off the web".  What are the 
boundaries of the information space of the web?
Is that a useful question to ask?

1.  System identity decides ( a URI exists or 
can be safely and reliably derived)

2.  Protocol decides.  The use of HTTP and 
the generic methods (a la Fielding).

It can't be simply access.  It is possible 
for two systems to communicate and return 
an item across a boundary.  Effectively, that 
is what a SOAP RPC does.  One can make a request 
for an item "off the web" and have it returned 
"to the web".  

3.  There are no boundaries.  This will make 
the web zealots happy and it is a nice marketing 
line, but it is useless except for creating 
ever expanding hegemonies and that way lies 
disaster and dissolution.   It simply says, 
the web is a network of communicating entities. 
Web = Network.  That is useless.

len

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Kay [mailto:michael.h.kay@n...]

> A teaser for those who like such:  can one
> effectively address points in a space that
> has no boundaries?

Yes. A real number is quite a good way of addressing points on an infinite
straight line - what are you getting at?

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