On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 11:52:19 +0100 Rodney Tillotson
<R(_dot_)Tillotson(_at_)ukerna(_dot_)ac(_dot_)uk> wrote:
Bruce Lilly wrote:
One item that could be improved in next-generation email is better
orthogonality between envelope, header, and body.
If you're thinking at that level, you have to go further.
1. Paper mail doesn't have to be the reference model to follow (or
to selectively avoid following).
2. The US model for paper mail is not the only one.
3. The words "envelope", "header" and "body" do not contribute to
worldwide understanding.
Hmm ...
This was a well thought out and stated argument. It is potentially
dangerous to reuse terminology and concepts from a single paper based
postal model -- for all the reasons stated: limitations in thinking,
assumption of common context and confusion over reused terms with
different semantics.
But, you have to start somewhere. In particular refering to one or more
existing models is perfectly acceptable as long as we keep the warning
fully in mind. Also, any use of terminology in the end system must be
fully defined to avoid any reuse inconsistency.
From a philosophical standpoint it would be a good idea to look at all of
the available existing models (paper and electronic) and select those
characteristics that apply, are obviously useful, that work and that have
strong analogy with the target electronic model. Specifically, what
elements of the UK or African or whatever model would make sense in the
electronic model?
I think the original message in the thread did a pretty good job of doing
that for the North American model. It would be interesting to see what
elements from other models could be incorporated that provide better, new
or different functionality. Because we do need to provide labels for the
concepts, is there an alternative to "envelope" that is better? It is an
english word with quite a specific meaning. Perhaps "package"?
Cheers.
---
Steve Hole
Chief Technical Officer - Electronic Billing and Payment Systems
ACI Worldwide
Email: holes(_at_)aciworldwide(_dot_)com
Phone: 780 424 4922