Hi Stephen (from APAMI list), Let me try and allay your fears on the concept of "Openness" in standards. I don't know how many from the APAMI list is also on the Openhealth list and there had been discussion already on this subject matter there. What I will do is to cross post my responses to the Openhealth list and extract whatever relevant discussion that had been posted there to this list. If anyone finds these cross posting incomplete please don't hesitate to chip in.
I think this is a genuine attempt for those in the FOSS community to engage our colleagues supporting "non-open" formats (I hope I'm using the politically correct terms) without wanting to restrict or constrain anyone's viewpoints. None of us want a philosophical discussion either. Let me also state here that the programmes for the OSHCA conference are being massaged by the community to ensure that the deliberations at the conference and the conference output will be of benefit to all. Here's what I had in mind for the conference objectives as in the OSHCA web-portal. Clearly the objectives address OSHCA Vision and Mission Statements. > 1. Share and review current FOSS applications in healthcare > 2. Share and review current technologies in healthcare software > 3. Conceptualise and define OSHCA's role in managing FOSS > collaborative services > 4. Explore the role of open standards in facilitating interoperable > health information communication > 5. Promote OSHCA and its activities particularly to IT and > healthcare communities in Asia-Pacific region > 6. Promote the advantages of using FOSS applications to managers of > healthcare facilities in public and private sectors in the > Asia-Pacific region. > The emphasis on Asia-Pacific region is because of funding from UNDP-APDIP and subsequently our proposals for funding under IDRC's PAN Asia eHealth Research Network. Here's some views on the matter from the Openhealth list. Quoting Thomas Beale from the OpenEHR project.... >I think that if we are to spend any time at all on this question, it >should be couched in terms of "what business model makes sense for >standards development"? And we should show why open source thinking has >something to offer. > >To give you an idea of the kind of thinking that could be exposed, here >is my opinion: >I think they should be open and freely usable - in fact I think the only >sensible business model for standards development is to give them away >free and charge some money for compliance testing. What ISO and many >other bodies do is completely wrong, and hence fails most of the time >(there are far more ISO standards than are actually used, because people >cannot even examine them for fitness without paying for them. Hence a >vast amount of talking, time off and air miles are wasted on producing >documents that never see the light of day). > Thomas continues.... >Just to continue on my "software ecosystem" comment a few posts back, I >think this conference would be an opportunity to show more than just >"why open source is good" in a general sense. We already have the proof >that this is true in some areas, with category-topping efforts like >Linux & Apache. We also already have some great medical open source >systems. What we don't have is a standard-based, interoperable ecosystem >of software that we can offer the industry as a whole. What I think we >want is to show that we can build a cathedral, but do it in the bazaar. >We need something that looks like objectweb.org, but in health. Putting >openly developed standards together with openly developed software is >the key to the future in my view, and we should be developing the >necessary thinking now; the conference is an ideal opportunity to aim >for exposing such ideas. > I've dropped copying to the OSHCA Committee because everyone there are on the Openhealth List. Molly Stephen Chu wrote: > > Klaus: > > Let's not constrain ourselves to the concept of "openness" in > standards. While it is not too difficult (note - this does not mean > easy) to develop and make software suites "openly" available to the > world, the same cannot be said for true international standards. A > large amount of resources need to be poured into administering the > development and formalising (which includes balloting, etc) national > and international standards. The costs need to be recovered one way > or another ( e.g. by government contribution and user subscription). > The "openness" concept needs a completely different business model - > whether it is for software or standards. Until the SDOs see the merit > and adopt a different business model, there is little hope that we can > have "open" standards. By constraining ourselves to "open standards" > we may not have much to share at the conference, unless we are > contented with just a philosophical discussion. Therefore, I suggest > that we keep our options open by constraining out the word "open" in > this new objective I propose. > > My 2 cents worth. > > Stephen > > > On 1/17/07, *Klaus Veil* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: > > Stephen, good idea - suggest we say "Explore the role of *open* > standards in ... > > In the past, there has been some contention that not all standards > are open and in tune with the Open Source concept... > > Klaus > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] > *On Behalf Of *Stephen Chu > *Sent:* Wednesday, 17 January 2007 17:34 > *To:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > *Cc:* OSHCA Committee > *Subject:* Re: [Fwd: [FOSS-PDI] OSHCA Conference - Preliminary > Announcement] > > > > Hi, Molly: > > If "interoperability" is one of the focus of the > conference, I suggest that you add one more item to the > existing conference objectivies: > "Explore the role of standards in facilitating interoperable > health information communication". > > We can certainly discuss how national and international standards > and information infrastructure building play a role in > interoperable health information communication. > > Regards, > > Stephen > > > On 1/17/07, *Molly Cheah* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: > > > Hi Klaus, > > I spoke to HM just now and I think in principle there > shouldn't be a > problem co-organising with APAMI. We have already obtained > some support > from UNDP-APDIP's IOSN programme (with the help of Alvin > Marcelo) It > would be great to also get support from HL7 Australia and NZ, > since our > focus is on interoperability and data exchange. No doubt our > target > applications are FOSS applications and as such presentations of > applications and technology used will be restricted to FOSS. > > If May 8-11 (tuesday to friday) is acceptable, we'll work > towards those > dates, making available time for those attending HIMSS in > Singapore, the > opportunity to take off for a 3-day exclusive getaway in > bungalows by > the sea in Pulau Langkawi or anywhere else, before going down > south to > S'pore. This is VMY2007 :). > > Would May 8-12 (Wednesday to Saturday) a better alternative? > I'm copying > this e-mail discussion on the dates to the OSHCA committee to > avoid me > having to repeat the views expressed. > > Rgds, > Molly > Klaus Veil wrote: > > > > > Molly, > > > > I think an association with APAMI would be very beneficial > to OSHCA > > 2007 and > > the FOSS approach in general. > > > > We could also explore if HL7 Australia and HL7 NZ would be > able to > > provide > > some backing... > > > > Klaus > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] On Behalf Of > > Molly Cheah > > Sent: Wednesday, 17 January 2007 14:52 > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Subject: Re: [Fwd: [FOSS-PDI] OSHCA Conference - Preliminary > > Announcement] > > > > > > Dear Stephen, > > > > Thank you for your assistance to promote this event. I'm > hoping that > > APAMI > > may come in as co-organisers. Can't seem to get hold of HM > Goh to discuss > > this. Klaus suggested that the date be moved to May 8-11 to > avoid > > clashing > > with some of the other HL7 meetings, as well as convience > for those > > attending the HIMSS Asia-Pacific event on 15-17 in Singapore. > > > > I don't think there are specific objections to moving from > the original > > dates, but will get the Committee to endorse this. > > > > Rgds, > > Molly > > Stephen Chu wrote: > > > >> > >> Hi, Molly: > >> > >> I have asked our web guy to put in the URL link on the HL7 > NZ website > >> to promote the event. > >> > >> Best regards, > >> > >> Stephen > >> > >> > >> On 1/16/07, *Molly Cheah* < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> wrote: > >> > >> > >> > >> To: openhealth@yahoogroups.com > <mailto:openhealth@yahoogroups.com> > >> <mailto: openhealth@yahoogroups.com > <mailto:openhealth@yahoogroups.com>>, ossig <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>>, pdpkam <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>>, FOSS-PDI > >> < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <mailto: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> > >> Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:56:12 +0800 > >> Subject: [FOSS-PDI] OSHCA Conference - Preliminary > Announcement > >> > >> *Preliminary Announcement! > >> * > >> > >> * > >> OSHCA > >> * > >> > >> /presents/ > >> > >> > >> Moving the FOSS Agenda for Health: Setting the > Framework for > >> Interoperability > >> > >> > >> *1-4 May 2007 > >> Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > >> * > >> > >> Call for Presentations OSHCA 2007 - Annual Open Source > Health Care > >> Alliance Meeting > >> > >> This four-day conference provides the opportunity for > Free/Open > >> Source Software (FOSS) applications in healthcare, its > updates and > >> the use of FOSS technologies to be presented to > participants > >> particularly from the developing countries of the > Asia-Pacific > >> region. The target audience, in addition to the FOSS in > Healthcare > >> Community, will include interested persons from > Ministries of > >> Health and Private Health Care Facilities from this region. > >> > >> The conference agenda will also include presentations and > >> workshops on a variety of issues focussing on > interoperability and > >> data exchange. Major concerns on affordability and > developing > >> human capacity in the promotion, adoption and the use > of FOSS > >> applications will be deliberated on. > >> > >> To register your interest in presenting your > applications, please > >> email a brief description of your application (not more > than 250 > >> words) and its reference url in plain text or XHTML to: > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > <mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > >> > >> OSHCA Committee will decide on the final programme, > logistics etc > >> at its coming committee meeting. > >> For updated information on the conference status and > registration > >> information as it becomes available please visit the > conference > >> site at: http://oshca.org/conference/conf2007/ > >> > >> In the meantime, please register your interests asap to > enable us > >> to plan the conference agenda. > >> > >> Molly > >> <http://oshca.org/conference/conf2007/> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> FOSS-PDI mailing list > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <mailto: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > >> http://lists.apdip.net/mailman/listinfo/foss-pdi > <http://lists.apdip.net/mailman/listinfo/foss-pdi> > >> FOSS-PDI > >> < > http://lists.apdip.net/mailman/listinfo/foss-pdiFOSS-PDI > <http://lists.apdip.net/mailman/listinfo/foss-pdiFOSS-PDI>> is a > >> joint initiative of Bridges.org <http://bridges.org/> < > http://bridges.org/> ( > >> www.bridges.org <http://www.bridges.org/> < > http://www.bridges.org/>); FOSSFA (www.fossfa.net > <http://www.fossfa.net/> > >> < http://www.fossfa.net/>); OWSA ( > www.oneworldsouthasia.net <http://www.oneworldsouthasia.net/> > >> < http://www.oneworldsouthasia.net/>, > www.digitalopportunity.org <http://www.digitalopportunity.org/> > >> < http://www.digitalopportunity.org/>); UNDP/APDIP ( > www.apdip.net <http://www.apdip.net/> > >> < http://www.apdip.net/>); APDIP/IOSN (www.iosn.net > <http://www.iosn.net/> > >> < http://www.iosn.net/>); UNESCO ( www.unesco.org > <http://www.unesco.org/> > >> < http://www.unesco.org/>). > >> > >> No virus found in this incoming message. > >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > >> Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.12/630 - > Release Date: > >> 1/15/2007 8:28 PM > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Asia Pacific Association for Medical Informatics (APAMI)" > group. > To post to this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.sg/group/apami?hl=en-GB > -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.13/632 - Release Date: 1/16/2007 >4:36 PM > >
