Benefits of Open Standards

In this chapter, the benefits of open standards were indicated in various ways with respect to the sectors using it. Its importance in comparison to the proprietary formats was as clear as blue waters. The prevention of vendor lock-in is one of the better results from the usage of open standards. Unlike proprietary standards wherein implementers will soon be tied up with a specific standard, open standards guarantee that a user has the freedom of choosing other specification which they think is best to satisfy their requirements. Considering interoperability, it will be easier for communicating systems with different technologies to communicate since standards are open and known.

Open standards can also be exploited by some vendors who at first claim embracing the usage of these specifications. This doing has EEE as the means. EEE stands for Embrace, Extend, and Extinguish. In the embrace stage, a certain vendor publicly declares of their open standards usage. Subsequently, they make enhancements in the acquired standards. Since claiming that these modifications are done by them, they make it proprietary. This now makes the extend part. In the extinguish stage, due to the popularity achievement of the modified open standard, it now becomes de facto. For the reason that they have made it proprietary, the principles of open standards have been defeated.

Creation of Standards

In the creation of technical standards there are processes that can be followed:
• De jure
• De facto
• Industry-driven

In the process of de jure, a proposal of a new standard is laid by a representative coming from a committee. After this, a draft will be created with the unity of a small group. This draft will then undergo a series of deliberation and modifications until it will be forwarded to the higher body in the organization for examination. Within the examination, if there will be a need for changes in the draft then it will be sent back to the committee for further development. It will undergo the same process until it becomes published as a formal standard as voted by the participating national bodies. Its advantage lies in the fact that since standards are created through a consensus and legal process, its reliability is unquestionable. However, its disadvantageous side would be that it takes two to three years of waiting before publishing the standards. Another is that, to what degree that the user and industry accept the standards with ease.

Second is the de facto process. In here, due to the reason that a certain technology or product is widely embraced by users and the industry this product becomes now a standard. Modifications of the standards are much faster than that of the de jure process for it does not have to wait over long procedures of debates under a consensus body. However, a possible vendor lock-in would arise.

The third one is the industry-driven process. There are organizations formed to develop standards for a specific industry. Example of this is the OASIS, dedicated to set standards in e-commerce. These standards become legitimate international standards when submitted to the international standard setting bodies like the ISO.
Based on my readings, these are some organizations which support open standardization:

• Internet Engineering Task Force
• World Wide Web Consortium
• Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards
• Free Standards Group
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Let Bygones Be Bygones

The days from June went blazingly hot and cold towards September. What?! Needless to say, the end of the semester is now approaching. In this thought, every nerve in my brain was jumping as if ready for an adrenalin rush. Somehow, they were sensitive enough to detect that their master was facing an incoming danger. I started recalling the things that undeniably needed my attention. First of all firsts were my requirements. I began counting numbers and realized I had missed too much. Delayed postings, hanging journals, undecided projects and the elusive research topic made me feel helpless for a moment. I was blaming no one but myself. The culprit, it’s laziness all over again.

Well, I couldn’t think of any person responsible for this. Not even my professors, for they had not let a time slipped in reminding us our obligations. I, for a fact, was a witness on how they encouraged students to participate actively and to always have a close pace with time. Behind this truth, I once accused them of bringing misery into my life. Why, they brought red marks in my passbook when in fact, ever since I took my first steps in learning I never had gotten this shameful blood. Since elementary, I was consistent of having high grades. I may never had experienced being on top but I was recognized for my academic competency. Then I knew how it felt to be a failure. Failure as it was, despite of hard work. I was like an asteroid falling towards the Earth, suddenly crushed by the atmosphere. All that was left were the broken pieces – hard to find and mend. I took it very seriously. Stupid of me! I had almost been dragged by the pressure they were giving us in terms of requirements. They were demanding this and that at specific times. Sometimes, they just couldn’t appreciate efforts. Sometimes, they would only make a fool out of us. This I couldn’t bear. Lastly, it hurt me when it was obvious that they could not avoid comparing students from the other sides of the world. Non-nocturnal versus nocturnal. The one is superior over the other, respectively. I hated them so much that I never wanted to see their faces again.

Whew! That was too much already. The rest was history. But then, history teaches me everything. Much has been said and now it’s time for me to think why I am still here. Despite the struggles, I still consider IC as my second home. I have my professors whom I considered my mentors. Hate turns into admiration, appreciation and respect. I am still at IC because I HAVE PROVEN MYSELF WRONG AND THAT SOMETHING IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR, SOMETHING AS SUCCESS. What is success without failures? What is success without hardships? I have realized that at first, I was just too proud of myself that I became blind from the things ahead. PAMATI! Hehehe For that, I have learned the value of humility.

I have blamed others for my misfortunes when the truth is; I make my own decisions and my own destiny. I am my own enemy.

One very significant lesson that I got from RSG: LAZINESS IS NOT ONLY DEFINED AS DOING NOTHING BUT IT IS ALSO NOT DOING THINGS ON TIME.

September is here, I have to keep moving and get things done before October says hello.

Method and Methodology

Method and methodology are synonymous in terms of their underlying purpose which is to serve the ways of doing anything that will lead to a result. However, as what I have understood, they differ in their area of usage. Method is used in general while methodology is the scientific term, as the suffix “-logy” means study. For example in the field of research, the word methodology is used.

Girlfriend Robots

“Japan has done it again!”, as Mary Jade Damondamon first stated in her brief summary of a research on robots. Indeed, Japan had repeated a remarkable history. A robot named “Eternal Maiden Actualization” was technically designed to entertain (sing and dance) and entice men with a kiss. A girlfriend robot, as what they called it. Artificial intelligence, I guess for the Japanese, this is surely a piece of cake for them given that they have been consistent in this field for many years. What else is new? Resource is never a problem for them. They have the ideas, technical skills and financial $upport, etc, etc. Name it and they have it. No wonder that Japan has been technologically evolving almost everyday! Such a funny thing came into my mind when I took notice of this article. Possibly many years from now, when girlfriend robots become a way of life, men will go crazy over it and eventually consider them as lifetime partners. I could imagine my kind competing for their love and crying a million buckets of tears. Somehow, a rival between natural-born women and girl robots will shake the world. I have always been interested in artificial intelligence ever since I became aware of this terminology. I even thought of it as my research topic. However, doubts conquered my mind every time I considered my methodology.

Identify and discuss key factors for publishing research in top-tier journals like CSP, ACM, i3E, etc.

Having published a certain research in top-tier journals is a sole proof that a researcher’s piece of work is being widely recognized and that it has gained approval from highly respected people in the field of research. One important factor of achieving this is by doing a careful and accurate job within the whole process of research. It starts from choosing a topic that possesses novelty. A topic should interest people (readers and critics). An impressive methodology is also an essential factor of getting a research published.

How do you know if a piece of research work is good or not? how are they evaluated?

A good problem first defines a good piece of research. A problem is something worth addressing to. Next is that a good research work does have a comprehensive significance. It means that the entities that the research is trying to reach out should be able to understand the benefits from conducting the study. The terminologies, clearly defined in the report, are also indications of a good research. Generally, the content of a good research report guarantees the readers to have a better understanding with respect to the background, purpose, procedures and conclusion of the study. For formality’s sake, it should be of proper grammar and format. Lastly, in my own opinion, a good piece of research is intended for the well-being of the common people.