Title
ODF: Our Document Future
Author
Donna Benjamin, Open Source Industry Australia and Creative Contingencies
Date
8/22/2008
(Original Publish Date: 5/19/2006)
(Original Publish Date: 5/19/2006)
Abstract
The XML based OpenDocument format represents our document future because of the part it will play in the practice of digital preservation. The National Archives of Australia took part in the development and standardisation of the open office xml file format that has gone on to become the OASIS OpenDocument Format for Office Applications. Members of their digitial preservation software team sat on the technical committee that drafted the standard. As we've increased our capacity to store data externally from ourselves we've decreased our own ability to remember it. Whilst undertaking the background research for this paper, I was surprised to discover that one of the reasons behind Socrates' dislike of reading and writing, was his belief those skills diminished his students capacity to remember and recall spoken information. It was later acknowledged that by not having to remember the text itself, students engaged in higher level analysis and understanding.
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